2019-04-19: A Civil Conversation
- Log: 2019-04-19 A Civil Conversation
- Cast: Kaguya Alathfar, Hiro, Pearl
- Where: Luca
- Date: 19/04/2019
- Summary: A pleasant dinner in Luca is interrupted by the appearance of a Vile Fiend. Conversation remains civil.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya Alathfar has posed.
The cafe is popular--but is it /really/ the food, or is it that they have the best spherecast screens on the block? Hard to say. But if you asked someone on the ground, someone who's already /there/...
Well. Kaguya Alathfar, for one, is pretty into this food. Naturally, she got it meatless--not that strange with all the monks who have been in town lately with the Maesters' visits--but she happens to be mostly through a plate of stir fry next to a bowl of noodle soup as Hiro walks in, and is...
Actually she's very hard to see, to start with. She doesn't stand out as much as Hiro and Ruby do, despite her unusual clothing, because she's /smaller/. Fine attire, if foreign, pointed ears, sharp teeth... She's strange, but overlooked here mostly because people are focused ont he game. And... because...
"Yeah, but let's be serious--nobody was expecting the Beasts to beat the Goers /anyway/ before Kilika got hit."
...This drunken statement from the man sitting at the table next to Kaguya is the point at which half of the entire cafe goes /dead silent/, because even if it's true that's not something you /say/. ...The talking picks up an instant later, with more arguing--
"What, you're making light of--"
"Their right forward is my cousin!"
Aaaand just as the bartender starts to raise her voice to calm people down--Well, that's when one of the drunks /swings/ at one of the others, straight past Kaguya's table--
...And that's when the foreign noblewoman's hand snakes up. Kaguya doesn't even /look/ to the side at first, her smaller hand simply closing around the man's fist, stopping it cold. "W-what--"
She twists, gently, rotating his arm and forcing him down to a painful angle to avoid something breaking. Not inappropriate, yet, but--
...But definitely /noticeable/, as she finally turns her head towards him. "Hey," she says. "...I'm trying to finish my meal before the next match comes on."
She has her eyebrows lifted, her expression casual, sort of 'you're going to make me deal with this?' as the people who otherwise would've fought just... pause.
It's not often that they see a preteen boy catch a grown man's fist. ...Wait, no, that's a girl's voice. "
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
As Hiro enters the cafe, Ruby flies down to his shoulder, stuffing herself beneath his orange scarf. If people can't get a clear look at her - she becomes less troublesome. So she takes that perch for granted. Fortunately for the two of them they go mostly unnoticed by the commotion from the-
"Huh-" As he blinks away the stars in his eyes. "These Blitzball fans get really passion-"
And that's when one of them starts swinging.
"-ate." By this point Hiro was en route past Kaguya's table, however he's knocked aside by the scuffle mid-side step into a stumble. "Whoa-oa!"
About to careen into another table, he barks a word.
And suddenly there's a strong updraft in the middle of a bar.
The next moment rather than the expected result of him crashing into a table, he's on the ceiling, holding onto the Luca Goers banners hanging overhead - which is starting to sag beneath his weight.
"Aha-" While Ruby clings onto him for all their life. "What is their problem!? A little awareness please!"
Hiro offers a little wave and a grin from above, "Let's hear it for the uh-" He darts a look at the banner to double check it, "-Goers?"
While typically this may have caused some scattered cheering and angry muttering all eyes in the bar are on one point. The drunk's fist in Kaguya's hands.
He certainly remembers the last time he saw her.
Instead he does this small swing before letting go, landing behind a chair at the opposite side of her table.
"Been a long time - Kaguya." He says as he rests a hand on the back of the chair. "You doing well for yourself lately?" He is smiling, though perhaps it's a bit terse. Ruby cringes a little bit. "Geez Hiro - maybe we should just let her finish her noodles in private."
Hiro just keeps his hand resting there. "Mind some company?" Ruby looks at him like he's sprouted another head. Giving him a 'wwhhhyyyy' look.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya Alathfar has posed.
Wind magic. Kaguya notices that. She doesn't look towards it, but she feels it happen, in the same way she feels that this guy's hand is sort of dirty and weathered, and that there's spice on her tongue, and that it's quiet. So, there's a guy swinging from a banner--there's a Ruby talking. Aaaaand...
There's... a friendly meeting. Kaguya is watching the guy--but she glances Hiro's way, for a moment, curious, and then looks back to the guy. "...Yeah," Kaguya says. "I'm doing pretty great, actually."
The guy at this point is more than half bent over, gritting his teeth. And after leaving him that way for one more moment, the small secret Veruni says, "Now I know you're just drunk and excited, and you didn't want any trouble. So you and your buddy get another drink on me, and we don't disrupt the bar while I'm eating, and if you're real sorry you can go find a priest later and tell him about it. Cool?"
"...Y-yeah," he says, and the offended man in the first place nods, the whole incident a very cold shower on his initial anger.
Kaguya releases him--and he starts to move. She pulls out some gil, sets it on the table for whenver the server comes by... and finally looks back to Hiro.
"I'm great. But I've already got a little company. Room for a third, though. She should be back any minute."
...The bar starts to get back to its normal business, though there's a few uneasy looks at the strangely strong foreigner. "Goers are pretty good," she adds. "I like them, they've got sass. Them and the Glories, I'm most into them so far." A beat, "Fish here's pretty good. So..."
She leans close, and lowers her voice, "I'm gonna buy you two lunch, and you're not gonna mention anything about the word 'Veruni', and then I'm not gonna have to stomp holes in anybody. Sound fair?"
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
Hiro's expression remains guarded even as Kaguya says there's room for a third. "I'm kind of an Aurochs fan after that tournament." He adds, as he slides out the chair, and starts to take a seat. "I'm just a root for the underdog kinda guy."
And well - that spectacular come back to win it that noone expected...
However when Kaguya leans over and threatens them over that. Hiro actually lets the tension flee him, his smile looks genuine. "Same ol' Kaguya. And that's the last thing on my mind."
"Yep! Honest! We would never want to cause you annnyyy trouble about that."
"Maybe just dessert - we already had lunch."
Which causes Ruby to suddenly press her face against his, "Hiro shut your face and order up. You're not going to deprive me of a free lunch!"
Hiro sighs and reluctantly decides to just order something to take mostly to go for Lucia.
Though his smile does fade a little bit. "So... I shouldn't beat around the bush... I dunno how to tell you this..." And his expression becomes more somber, as his fingers come to rest on the table. "... but I've got news from Filgaia. About your old business associate, Janus."
His eyes lift to level on Kaguya, as Ruby's eyes just abruptly go bug eyed now in realization of what Hiro's about to do.
"He tried to seize the power of some ancient being known as the King of Evil. And well... he failed, and when he did. Went... ballistic. Even Dario and Romero were begging everyone to stop him."
Taking one long, deep breath, Hiro isn't used to being the bearer of bad news.
"He's dead."
Ruby suddenly shrilly adds, "And neither of us killed him! Nope - in fact Hiro was the last guy he ever stabbed!" Ruby quickly pats him on the shoulder, "Yep - stabbed him so hard it couldn't have possibly been him that did it!"
Hiro is ignoring such talk to finish saying to Kaguya, "I'm sorry for your loss."
Janus Cascade may have been a murderous jerk - but Hiro knows he meant something to the people who knew him.
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
It was not often that Kaguya's guest took 'recreation' time. Meals were often a quick, solo affair in the mess hall, then disappearing. Often to train, or simply return straight to duty. The idea of a relaxed lunch at a cafe is rather foreign to her, and definitely out of character to anyone who knows her.
But it would be extremely poor form to refuse an invitation from nobility when they take an interest.
It's for this reason that Pearl is making her way through the crowded cafe, moving through it with ease, despite the rambunctiousness of the crowd. Still, she stops as Kaguya deals with the interloper. She can't help but admire the artistry at work here. Incredible control, causing maximum pain without breaking the bone. Easy to screw up, break the bone, and cause the target to pass out. Then you just have a scene on your hands.
Pearl doesn't clap, but a part of her wants to.
The bigger problem is Kaguya's guest. She recognises Hiro almost instantly, and takes a moment to compose herself. A small wave of hatred passes over her. She has the element of surprise, true. But she also has witnesses. Not to mention Hiro has a bad tendency of surviving.
Not today, then.
"You have an interesting choice in guests, Duchess Alathfar." Pearl's voice is quiet, not enough to cause attention in the crowd, but still audible enough for Hiro and Kaguya. It's a voice that Hiro might remember, from back on Lunar. Not to mention whatever Jean may have told him. The martial artist takes her seat, and looks intently at Hiro. "Do not let me stop you." She doesn't know anything of Janus Cascade, beyond perhaps a bounty, but the story of a King of Evil, well, that piques her interest just a little.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya Alathfar has posed.
"That's cool," Kaguya agrees breezily about the Aurochs. "You gotta admire a team that can come back that hard." Blitzball teams, it seems, are a place where kaguya believes that they can compromise. Threats, though..
Kaguya actually laughs a little when he smiles, a wicked grin her response. "Don't want people to think I've gone too soft, right? And I didn't want to risk being... unclear."
A beat, as she glances to Ruby. Then to Hiro. "'Swhy I mentioned the fish," the blonde says. "Take yours back to one of your girlfriends or whatever, Hero, I don't care. Maybe the hot one with the green hair. Oh maybe I should be buying the Lord of Calamity lunch..." She grins, faintly.
But--things get serious, there--when Hiro says he yas something to say, Kaguya inclines her head, a habit by now from servants who ask permission, to make clear that she's listening. Janus...
Kaguya's response isn't obvious, at first. At least, not as obvious as 'throwing a wall at someone'. But it becomes more of a thoughtful look, and then a frown, and something distant there.
"...Don't worry," she says to Ruby. "Your buddy here's too honest to be lying to me about that. She pauses, then, shakes her head. "...I really, really didn't expect to outlast him. Going for the power of the "King of Evil', huh...?" Kaguya pauses, and then--
"Well, at least he died like he lived, I guess. That's a bold way to go out. Sucks about Damien and Ronald, but..."
No. Pearl does not take much recreation, does she? That's part of what interests Kaguya about her, frankly. So the fact that she happens to comeback right about now is sort of convenient, in that sense; an association with death, and that quiet voice of hers right back. Where'd she get all those scars...?
"Right?" she answers Pearl, gestures her back. "I was just deciding to get a stiffer drink after all before we leave. I've run around with this guy before--Tangled with him a couple of times." She considers, then, glancing back to Hiro, and Ruby will probably be the first to spot the spark of mischief in her eye.
"Naturally," she says just to the table, "Since he's an associate of the Lord of Calamity, our duty as warriors of the Goddess is to interrogate him. But we're keeping a low profile today, so this time he gets to talk voluntarily first."
Kaguya grins. "But we don't need to bring him when we check out the Fiends out on the road. No need getting distracted from a good fight."
She turns back to Hiro then, and adds, in the same casual tone, but with a briefly more serious look in her eye--"Thanks. I want to know who did it... But you don't need to tell me today, 'cause when I find out, I'm going to pay them a visit."
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
Hiro thinks he perhaps sees the look in Kaguya's eyes, and feels this pang of sympathy. He knows how Gwen felt about Janus dying after all. And he knows that the threat of slipping off this mortal coil looms for Kaguya. "Yeah... I guess he did." Ruby breathes more easily at Kaguya realizing Hiro wouldn't lie, before his face kinda spasms at Kaguya getting their names wrong of Janus minions.
Hiro finds his eyes drifting up to Pearl's statement while Ruby's eyes more whip up at her. The two then state as one. "Duchess?!" Then back to Kaguya then back at Pearl. Then back at Kaguya as if in disbelief. There aren't really nobility where he comes from - but his Grandpa drilled enough about other nations as part of his upbringing. His mind can instantly grasp where the title must have come from. Hyland or Rolance.
He double takes back to Pearl - there's something in her voice he thinks he recognizes - but - "Wait - the Guard!? You two - both... are?" Ruby gets an 'OH CHEESE IT THE FUZZ' look which instantly becomes 'Oh wait they don't rule this part of the world' in the space of a split second.
And thus he simply normalizes it as having heard her voice while running from the Guard.
He gives Kaguya this strange look, "What are you even doing in the Guard Kaguya? You're... not exactly the kind of person I'd... think of as devout." Whereas Ruby mutters, "That's putting it mildly."
Rubbing his chin, he looks over at Pearl, allowing his smile to creep back on his face, "Have we met before? Um - well likely we didn't... get to introduce ourselves if we have. And- sounds like you already know who I am."
There's a suggestion in that of asking for her name, though it's awkward like he hopes she'll just give it. "You're allowed to give introduce yourself to someone like me right? Leo always does..." Ruby rolls her eyes, "He sure does. And 'someone like me' Hiro you shouldn't speak like you actually are some kind of criminal." "Well I know that but- it's not like I'd be able to convince them of that easily!"
However then Kaguya says that at the end and Hiro's expression falls as he immediately tries to plead to her a little bit, "Kaguya - please don't. She's already suffering a lot over what happened back there. When she went out there that day she was hoping to save the guy..."
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
Pearl follows along with the conversation quietly, and nods as Kaguya makes the call about not starting a fight in the middle of the cafe. "Understood," is the sum of her response to Kaguya's reminder of a low profile. She doesn't really mince words, does she. The tension in the room is clear, and while she could probably make things worse, that's not really what she's here to do.
"Correct. Duchess Alathfar is aiding the Guard, while I serve as a guardswoman." It simply reinforces Kaguya's statement. "And you are the third most wanted person on the face of Lunar. Not taking into account the peoples from the Blue Star." Pearl corrects herself, but continues on. "I do not believe we have encountered each other. Under any other circumstances, I would be compelled to apprehend you." A lie, but told expertly. She does not, as Hiro might hope, offer her name. That, she can recall, was announced to all and sundry by a Metal Demon long ago, far too late to change her cover story. It may be a matter of time before she is found out, but there's no point in speeding that up.
"He has flaunted the laws of the goddess Althena," She responds to Ruby, turning her cold gaze to the tiniest dragon cat. "By all standards he is a criminal. His admission of such is perhaps respectable, if ill advised." That's... charitable of her?
"I must admit that I am curious, though, to know what The Destroyer's Consort considers so foul as to be a King of Evil." She doesn't give a damn about some dead man on another star, but what he was chasing? That's another story all together.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya Alathfar has posed.
The shock about her title--Pearl casually stepping in to clarify their position--these things hold Kaguya up from responding for solid seconds, because she is entirely too busy being smug to actually form words. It's great. She just grins... and sets her left hand on the table, which holds a heavy signet ring.
Hiro or Ruby might, at this point, recognize the Hyland insignias on her tunic, or at least that they are Hyland, if not the details. Some, after all, are new.
Pearl gets a nod, at the acknowledgement. It's important, on occasion, to remind people like Hiro that the reason things don't get ugly is because they have chosen not to make them so.
"Maybe I just didn't like that god in particular," she answer slightly--and then, she grins again, and this time waits for Pearl to actually explain the situation at hand. She's perfectly content to wait and watch for the moment. She speaks easily, firmly...
"She's got a point," Kaguya points out. "You're pretty notable! But then, so am I. Unlike you last time you were around Glenwood, I was busy; after the battles between Hyland and Rolance, Hyland recognized my assistance and invited me to their peerage. You happen to be addressing Duchess Alathfar, General of Hyland and anointed knight of Althena's Chosen." A beat, "You see, after Azado, the Goddess decided that Sin was too big a problem to leave the other side of the ocean to deal with alone... which is why we're here."
"But, you know--it's not really convincing. It's sorta definitional; if the authorities determine that you've made trouble, them you're a criminal. That's just how it works. While I, instead, am a respected figure, asked personally to lead Hyland's forces under the White Knight and the Dragonmaster's banners for Althena Herself. Good intentions, bad intentions... You should remember that there are people who make these judgements whether you agree with them or not, Hiro."
Wait, did she actually get his name right?
"But Guardswoman Palla here brings up a good question. 'King of Evil' is kind of a big-ass deal, you know? Did you hear any more about him?"
"As for this friend of yours... Like I said. Good intentions, bad intentions--they don't matter that much. She was strong, that day--so she won. That's how it works. Which means that she's strong enough to have a talk about it." She pauses. "...But if it makes you feel better--what if I told you that I won't kill her when we talk, even if I'm able? She gets a free grace period to actually tell me about it without losing her life over it. You'd have my word."
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
Hiro actually raises his fingers and counts them down - one - two - three - just as if trying to mentally consider who number one and two are. He's not certain he likes either Lucia or Jean being number one and two on the list. In his eyes they shouldnt be considered criminals at all. "That may be so, but it's based on a misunderstanding." He finally replies calmly, "For all three of us. Lucia isn't the Lord of Calamity - but the victim of a curse placed on her by the being she came to save this world from. And Jean-"
There's a faint pause, because he knows who Jean once was - can consider it academically - but he cannot reconcile it with the person she is now at all. "She's not that person anymore."
Defending the two of them comes easily as breathing to him.
As Kaguya starts speaking on matters, what she did in Glenwood, how she rose to where she is. "... ... ... You mean the people in power." He says quietly as if he gets her meaning, "Well - congratulations on your accomplishments. My Grandpa tried to drill in me all sorts of address if I ever encountered nobility, but you don't seem like the kind of person who needs to hear 'Your Grace' every five seconds - so I think I'll just keep calling you Kaguya." He folds his hands at the table while Ruby briefly flies away to get the attention of the waiter. Instead of allowing Hiro to order she seems to be just ordering for him instead. "As for myself - I look up to the Dragonmaster - I respect the Goddess Althena." He nods at her, "And you. But I'm not about to be swayed from my course simply because there are consequences to defying the people who have the power to define how people are judged.."
He does nod as Pearl says they haven't met, though he does offer a wry smile. "That's very dutiful of you. Leo's got himself some fine subordinates." He can certainly respect the concept of duty. He simply considers the right thing to be counter to their duty.
Ruby finally returns after ordering - and putting it on Kaguya's tab, wings fluttering as she lands on Hiro's shoulder. "Yeah well doing things that are ill advised is kinda his thing."
Calling him the Destroyer's Consort though instantly causes him to blush, as he stammers, "W-Why does the guard keep calling me that? I'm not Lucia's consort." "Yeah! He's my consort anyhow. As you can see - majestic red dragon right here!"
Hiro though finally allows, "It's this legendary figure on Filgaia named... Ganondorf? He was some Desert Thief King who was given the title of the King of Evil? His minions had been trying to put him back together ever since he was sealed away."
As Kaguya says that about Gwen, his eyes narrow suspiciously at first, however as she gives her word, some of the tautness goes out of his body, "... Alright - I'll accept you at your word. I'd be the last person to accuse her of being weak."
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
Guardswoman Palla, is it? That will do, for the moment. It may not stand up to scrutiny, but it will do. Pearl doesn't really add anything to Kaguya's speech. Still, she bows her head slightly at talk of strength and power.
Mention of Jean, though, elicits a reaction, however small. Her hand clenches into a fist, digging her nails into her palm. If she were wearing her gloves, she'd draw blood. She may still. "She isn't?" is muttered under Pearl's breath, just loud enough to hear. A scar next to her spine feels as though it burns for a moment. But beyond that, she keeps herself under control. She is not the centre of attention, thankfully. That's Kaguya's spot to occupy.
"I assume you have the strength to back such convictions." It's not said to intimidate, or draw a reaction. The words are spoken impassively, as if just restating a fact. Pearl makes no comment on being dutiful, letting that slide past her.
Ruby instead distracts her again. "...Is that the case? I will arrange to have the wanted posters updated." She won't, she doesn't actually care that much. But eventually she gets her response about her question. "Hmph. A myth from the Blue Star, then. I wonder if there is any truth to it." She still seems somewhat skeptical, if intrigued. "I wonder if he is as much a threat as our prey." She's probably talking about Sin right now and not Lucia. Probably.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya Alathfar has posed.
"That's what I mean, though. Misunderstanding or not, right or wrong... It's the people in power who make the rules. What you believe--it doesn't change that. 'Criminal' is a label the powerful put on those who aren't strong enough to force them to think otherwise. If they weren't weak--then they wouldn't be criminals."
Guardswoman Palla. It might work--Kaguya has... a different approach to deception, than most. It's one that has worked well for her, the sheer audacity with which she operates.
Kaguya, thus, notices an interesting reaction, if not the context. She draws no attention to it. After all... she is good at being the center of attention.
"Thanks," Kaguya says. "But to be honest, a lot of them are my soldiers' accomplishments. I can inspire them, guide them, take advantage of the situations that arise... But if they hadn't shown what they could do, I wouldn't be in this position." Humility? Maybe not. "...But as you say, I don't need it from everybody. It's nice, don't get me wrong--But 'Kaguya' is fine. ...Besides," she says, "It'd be weird if the terrible criminal were all respectful, right? We've gotta play our parts."
Kaguya inclines her head to Pearl, then--the matter of strength. The matter of convictions. "That's cool, though. It'd be disappointing, if you just fell in line--it wouldn't be interesting. But I want you to remember, that's what you're up against--that's all. For now, anyway."
Kaguya turns her attention for a moment to Ruby--and actually laughs. "Man, you're so embarrassed about it, too! C'mon, you'd like to be, wouldn't you?" She grins, and then 'hmms' a little, "But you know, that's fair, Ruby. A mighty dragon needs a proper escort." She glances over, "I think I'm gonna have to see if we can get some more details added to the posters. Maybe we can get him drawn with a sorta cool beard? Make him look a little more consort-y."
As she jokes, though--she's also turning, more thoughtfully, considering the matter of myth. A desert thief, who ascended... Naturally, it has some resonance for Kaguya, of all people. "I wonder about that too," Kaguya agrees with Pearl. "You don't get to be the 'King of Evil' without at least having some panache. ...I'll keep an ear out. If it's power the Cascade Gang fell in order to try to take, well... I have an obligation to my fallen comrades, don't I?"
"I'm willing to believe a few more myths than I used to. There are a few I'm watching, though. ...Regardless..." She pauses, then, looks to Hiro's face--to his eyes.
"That's what I thought. Then you have my word; this friend of yours... Until after I've spoken with her, she has save passage from me; I will not harm her or allow her to come to harm in my presence until after she has safely left our conversation. And no cheaty things like shooting her in the back after she leaves the room, or asking my buddy here to handle her for me. This is serious."
"So, give me the name." Truth be told though--as it turns out... This conversation is teaching her about more than just Hiro, or his news.
It should make the coming afternoon more interesting.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
"No. She's not." Hiro replies, calmly, unable to see what lies under the surface in 'Palla'. Though he knows Kaguya enough to know she flubs names by now - so he's not actually certain whether he should call her that - or whether she's some long suffering attache who's never had her name stated right - even once.
It is true that Kaguya draws most of his attention - however when Pearl asks that. "Maybe." He replies quickly enough in a sotto voce, "Guess we'll find out." And as Kaguya states he's weak by de facto being named a criminal, Hiro grins, "I get what you're saying - I just don't agree on what strength is." His expression becomes somber, "Someone I know who's real wise told me that real strength isn't being able to impose your will on the world. It's having the strength to overcome sorrow. The sorrow that comes from the world's cruelty."
Whereas Hiro's eyebrows shoot up a little as Kaguya gives credit to her people - and states they all have to play their parts. "Huh..." As if perhaps seeing her in a different light, before commenting after, "... don't worry. I haven't forgotten."
When the talk goes to the poster with both Palla and Kaguya agreeing(Or at least so he thinks), he grows more flustered, "No no - that's absolutely not necessary!" Hiro waves his hands, while Ruby clasps her pawsies together, "See that you do! It's high time the whole world sees my Hiro in a different light!"
Hiro has this surreal moment as he double takes, when Pearl calls it prey. Like it were simply the result of a hunt, and... "I admire your confidence but I think... calling 'Sin' prey is taking it pretty lightly." He says mildly, before glancing sidelong at Kaguya, "I mean..." He wants to tell her that it's not a power anyone should pursue but... he can at least sympathize with an obligation to her fallen comrades. "... I guess I can't argue with that."
There's a long moment where Hiro considers what Kaguya is saying. She cuts an intimidating figure but if he truly believed it were wrong to give her Gwen's name - then there's no power in the world that could budge him on that. In this case though - he simply inhales slowly, and exhales as he turns it over in his head. He does believe Kaguya - he just hates for Gwen to have to deal with this so soon.
"Gwen Whitlock." He finally says - with a certain reluctance as Ruby slaps a paw to her face, "I'm going to tell her that you're coming." He adds, "I've got faith in her - but that doesn't mean I believe she should be blindsided by this."
That's the same moment that a waiter drops two elaborate fish platters in front of both Hiro. "So two of the stuffed Spiran Sea Bass on a bed of Kilika style Orzo..." Hiro stares at it for a moment, then looks at Kaguya, then holds up a finger to the waiter, "Can you package one of them to go? It's for someone else." Ruby who has now hopped onto the table looks at Hiro. "Hiro silly - I didn't order the other one for you! They're both for me!"
Hiro stares at Ruby for a moment, then repeats again to the waiter as he picks up one of the plates, "One of them to go please." "Spoilsport..." Ruby grumbles before digging back in.
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
Pearl, for her part, can recognise a joke when it's occurring, even if she doesn't respond to it at all. She doesn't really do humour, so it's easiest to let the moment pass and continue later. Not even the slightest look of concern crosses Pearl's face as it is suggested she might be used to murder this mystery person, even as the idea is written off in the same sentence. This is, perhaps, an not reassuring reaction.
"Very well. We will see when we doubtless come into conflict with one another." Again, no humour, no threat, just stated as a fact. Hiro's sotto voce goes straight over her head it seems.
She nods at Kaguya's talk about 'keeping an ear out'. "Indeed. If any evidence of this King's power exists in these lands, it would be best to be aware of it." I mean, not explicitly stating that they should go after it... but not ruling it out either.
"You misunderstand." She states, simply. "I have seen the power of this Sin. My calling it prey is not to underestimate. It is merely a statement of fact. We hunt this beast, and we will find a way to kill it. If that is at the cost of all the hunters, so be it." She is... awfully matter of fact about being marched to her death.
She does stare briefly at Ruby again, perhaps bewildered at the sight of her trying to eat two meals as large as she is. It's not like she knows who this Whitlock person is, nothing to contribute there.
<Pose Tracker> Kaguya Alathfar has posed.
Somebody Hiro knows, and likes, who--mysteriously--Kaguya has never met yet. (Not that mysteriously.) It's a flag for later, a curiousity, but nothing she needs to draw attention to now. ...LIke how she doesn't harp on the name thing yet.
"it's inevitable," Kaguya agrees about their conflict. "We can play nice here because we have reasons to--but, it'll happen." A beat, as she gives a fangy look that isn't quite a grin, isn't quite a smile until it turns into something that resembles it... but isn't happy, exactly. "That's a kind of strength, too. To keep going, when you want to give up. I respect it."
"...But there's a nice lady who went with you to the Blue Star when you all got transported there who I taught a lesson about the other kind of strength. Her, and the lady who pulled her out of the fire."
The fire being her punching, mostly. But she can be metaphorical. She's got to entertain herself somehow, Hyland doesn't have TV.
But Hiro hasn't forgotten--Hiro gets it--and she nods, slightly, acknowledging. ...Just like she absolutely sees the humor and grins this time with real humor. "You got it, Ruby. A personal request from a dragon, I'll have to get us a good artist!"
However--Hiro's caution, that she expects. Pearl's simple statement--her calm, reasoned, unfearing explanation--it gets a slow turn of Kaguya's head. Pearl will find, should she look at her ally here, the Duchess's strange, too-pale green eyes studying her in a moment of clear, unabashed fascination. This lasts for a few moments, a bit of wonder in the scientist's eyes. "...Yes," she answers, but is it an agreement? Is it... something else?
She doesn't answer further about the King of Evil, for now. She just says, "It's not every day we get to hunt a god of death. I saw what it did at Azado; don't worry. I'm taking it very seriously."
She seems to have an extra spring in her demeanor after that, though, a certain... charge. It remains, as Hiro gives her the name. "Thanks," she tells him. "And by all means--tell her to expect me. That fits the terms of our deal, and it saves me having to explain too much. It happens more often than you'd think--someone shows up, they say they've got an issue with me, and I have to think--which one of the many, many people I've taken down was the one they liked? Or did I just step on their toe sometime? You never know."
"...Besides. How she responds to knowing someone like me wants to see her is going to tell me a lot about her, too."
She laughs again, as the waiter sets down the food, obviously approving of Ruby's gluttony here, like a good religious warrior. "When you're bringing him that--Three drinks. And a shot for the little one."
"I wanna toast my buddy, Cashman. Then, I think we've all got things to do, don't we?"