2021-08-15: Toss a Coin to Your Xander

• Log: Toss a Coin to Your Xander
• Cast: Riley Arwell, Xander Lovell, Zhang Xiumei, Eleanor Klein, Seraph Ragnell
• Where: Klein Central Ward
• Date: August 15, 2021
• Summary: The Fangs, in need of money for a roof over their head for the night, put on a street performance. Between getting spotted by those who know they'e murders and Ragnell, they suffer. (Only Xander suffers.)

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===========================<* Klein Central Ward *>===========================

The central ward of Klein City is dominated by the great, imposing castle of House Klein, black stones with great spires stretching up to the sky atop a high cliff overlooking the rest of the city, with a fine view of the sea far below. ...But while the fortress could be imposing, it is largely open to the public, the government offices of the city sprawling from within the castle itself into the sprawling buildings that have sprung up somewhat less securely. The bureaucratic machine that oversees most of the trade of Meria Boule with other nations requires a great deal of upkeep, and many industries have sprung up to provide for and cater to the officials and merchants involved in the process. Klein City occupies a notable place at the east coast of Meria Boule, and it is in many ways its gateway to the rest of Filgaia, particularly outside Aquvy. Accordingly it is fairly cosmopolitan, favoring bright fashions and a sophistication that can sometimes grate on those who prefer more straightforward talk and manner. The rocky terrain means people are often closer together than not, but it is not known for its great machinery or production as a rule, even if it is one of the more bustling cities of Meria Boule.

BGM: Chrono Cross - Another Termina

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

Performing music for extra money is nothing new to Riley, but today for the first time he has enlisted the reluctant(?) help of Xander in these endeavors, to dance while Riley plays his guitar.

The two have set up in an open plaza in the streets of Klein, and Riley is playing a lively fingerstyle tune, slapping the strings for percussion amid whirling cascades of rapid notes. The feeling of it is energetic but a melancholy sense of yearning, like chasing after something that you know you'll never quite catch. (I'm envisioning something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5fmnrRzbg).

 Riley seems to be having a good time, which naturally translates into giving Xander a hard time; whenever he notices Xander getting into the performance, Riley throws out a gleeful comment like, "Xander, how am I supposed to play when you're being so cute!"

It seems the Fangs have reconciled and are once again up to no good...? Although this performance in itself doesn't seem to be murderous except insofar as the Fangs' continued existence is murderous.

<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.

The enlistment began with two words near and dear to Xander's heart: Absolutely not. The ensuing argument ended, as it so often does, with a growl of resignation and, after casting his mantle aside with as much force as could be demanded from a bundle of cloth, Xander's inevitable compliance.

Given that this is Xander, the embarrassing part may well be that he's good at this, moving with uncannily perfect timing to the music. It's a performance with dexterous footwork, some segments timed for his feet to impact with the ground firmly enough to add to the percussion beat. Fluid sweeps of his limbs skillfully lead the eye, broken up with the occasional twist or twirl.

"I can stop anytime," Xander shoots back to Riley's quip. "Trying to make me die of embarrassment still counts as breaking your promise."

Let it be said Xander never does anything by halves. It's everything or nothing. Today, it's everything. He keeps his eye out for anyone who approaches to offer a coin donation, beckoning for them to toss it directly to him instead, weaving the gestures into part of the dance.

<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.

"I think we have most of the party favors we need, Nora," Xiumei says, as she walks side-by-side with Eleanor Klein. "We have them for all of the tables--I should be able to organize everyone to assemble them, and it should be memorable."

<Fucking seriously?> Varius asks, inside of Xiumei's mind.

<Varius, I thought we agreed we'll let them figure out this whole mess without intervening in Xiumei's love life,> Avile replies.

Xiumei's eyebrow twitches.

<Ugh! No! I mean the assholes ahead.>

Xiumei pauses, as she catches two things. First, the rather talented and pleasant guitar music -- and, second, the surprisingly stunning dance moves of one Xander Lovell. Xiumei opens her mouth -- closes her mouth -- and then opens it again.

"Um!" she tells them both, loudly.

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

Music! That's always nice. Eleanor appreciates it when some people get out and start making music, and the tune brightens her day a little. She was already walking around with Xiumei though, so it was already nice. ...Even if they are working on the wedding. Which is fine. Super fine. "Oh good! I thought that was a really nice idea," she says pleasantly.

Ah, there's dancing...!

"Oh. Um." Pause. Eleanor recognies the two by their voices, rather than immediately, and awkwardly pauses, a few coins already in her hands as she stops moving.

"Um," she agrees eloquently.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

    Who's from a world where music and dance have been forbidden by the Goddess? Ragnell. Who doesn't give a shit about the Goddess's anti-music-and-dance edicts? Ragnell. Who quite enjoys music and dance, both as a participant and as an audience member? I'll let you sit and think on that one.
    
    And so a certain Lightning Seraph lounges on the eave of a nearby building's rooftop, one bootheel hooked in the gutter, the other hanging off the ledge and toe-tapping in midair to the beat of Riley's guitar. The melody is a fine mix of emotions, energetic yet yearning, and Xander's dancing with exquisite timing to the beat. Men are, generally speaking, not of great interest to Ragnell, but she watches these two perform with a half-smile. If neither has acknowledged her so far, well, that's normal for humans and a Seraph.
    
    She *does* look over to a more familiar pair as they approach. Eleanor she spoke to recently, but it's been a fairly long while since she met Xiumei. Not to worry, though! She remembers her.
    
    Specifically, she remembers her as the unlucky woman with a pervy old man robot ghost inside her body.
    
    So, just to make the ladies react because there's no knowing if the dudes would even hear it*, Ragnell puts her fingers in her mouth and blows a LOUD wolf-whistle. To make it extra embarrassing and/or hilarious for the Resonant crowd, she cups her hands over her mouth and bellows, "YEAH, HONEY, SHAKE THAT BOOTY! YOU KNOW WHAT MOMMA LIKES!"
    
* Ragnell is definitely about to find out if the dudes will hear it.

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

Trying to make me die of embarrassment still counts as breaking your promise.

"I'm sure you are the one who is trying to kill me with those moves,"

Riley insists.

Then... they acquire some familiar audience members. Riley manages to keep playing, but sucks a breath in hard over his teeth as none other than Eleanor and Xiumei arrive and make their presences known.

"...Oh no, it was me, I'm the bad luck!" he urgently stage whispers to Xander. "Maybe you need to lock me up again!"

But... they haven't opened fire, nor have they begun to shout 'Murderers! Murderers!' ... is it possible they have some incentive to avoid causing a scene? He and Xander certainly have ample incentive, as they don't want to be run out of town, thrown in jail, or other unpleasant possibilities involving Drifter fights or angry mobs.

Riley gives a hopeful smile and greets them with awkward, faintly desperate cheer. "...It looks like we're all doing a lot better than the last time we met! Glad to see it! Sorry about... you know."

He remains blissfully unaware of Ragnell's catcalling, although if he were able to hear it he might find it to be some welcome levity.

<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.

The redness is Xander's cheeks may well be more from exertion at this point as he shoots Riley his best glare.

Xander gets his coin from someone in the audience, rolling it across his knuckles before flipping it into the air. He fits a spinning maneuver during the descent, catching it between his fingers with his arm stretched high. Xander closes his fist around the coin, only to reveal it in his other hand with the other proven empty. Sleight-of-hand and coin juggling continues to mix with dance, Xander taking care with his arms so a pass between hands is never obvious.

He's probably hoping it encourages people to throw more coins into the mix -- if he's hoping anything of the sort. Because something incredibly dangerous and thoroughly mortifying is happening: Xander is enjoying himself. In one of his twirls, he looks to Riley with a fanged grin, holding up another coin and fanning it out into several before stealthily discarding them into their donation box as if they had vanished instead. But his smile vanishes with that look of distress and whisper. Xander whirls around to see they have familiar company.

"We need to get out of here," he whispers in turn, keeping his feet moving as long as Riley keeps playing. He knows just as well that it's better not to start a scene if they can get away with it.

Ragnell's catcalling demolishes all rational thought toward that end.

Xander falters a step, hopping back on one foot to maintain balance (still somehow in time with the music -- as we said, uncanny) before completely losing his balance and trying to salvage it in some sort of wild, acrobatic roll. He stares up at the roof in frazzled shock and joins everyone else in the word of the day. "Um?!"

A previously tossed coin lands dead center on his skull. Xander twitches with a wince.

<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.

<Fucking seriously?> Varius complains just a moment after Ragnell speaks.

Xiumei's eyebrow twitches at that, as she looks at Eleanor. Are they going to fight them? She doesn't really want to just attack them for showing up. She looks, instead, back at Riley and Xander. Her head tilts to the side. "You--doing a lot better--" She wrinkles her nose. "You tried to kill me! I'm not very confident that you're sorry!"

She folds her arms.

Then a coin smacks Xander in the head. He, too, calls out 'Um!?' Xiumei blinks -- head snapping up in the direction the coin came from -- and she doesn't quite track it to Ragnell. Then, she looks back at Xander. While Xiumei has been called very serious, she isn't without a sense of humor.

She bites her lower lip. And she is trying very, very hard to not start laughing.

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

Eleanor hasn't noticed Ragnell on the roof at first. She's just not paranoid enough to check every rooftop in her own city all the time. And she is busy focusing on Xander, Riley... and Xiu. She looks back at her best friend. "Um..." She doesn't pull a weapon immediately, but can she really just let them go considering what they tend to get up to?? With the murders??

But Ragnell's voice...

Coin hits Xander in the face. Eleanor is already bright red because of Ragnell's sudden call. And Xiumei is trying noto to laugh--

"Oh, my God," Eleanor says, turning to stare. "...Is that--" Ragnell??

She slooowly turns to look at Riley. "We--you--no!!"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

    Honestly, the acrobatics and the sleight of hand is what convinces Ragnell to toss some money Xander's way too. Fortunately for Xander and Riley, she actually *has* money, and knows what money is and how to use it, unlike certain other Seraphim we could name, but we won't, ecause we're better than that (but not better than a hint, namely it starts with B and ends with oudicca). Not needing money herself for the most part, it's even quite generous. If it ends up landing on Xander's skull, it's going to hit pretty hard.
    
    For now, though, Ragnell cackles to see that, of the two performers, only *one* can hear her 'praise.' "Oh, this *is* fun!" she crows, hopping down nimbly from the eaves and stalking towards the Fangs of Valmar like they'd be delicious with fava beans and a fine Chianti.
    
    This takes her in range of Xiumei's complaints, though, and Ragnell tilts a look her way before looking more thoughtfully again at Riley and Xander--more specifically Xander, as the only one of the two who can actually interact with her. "Tried to kill this 'un, huh? Bet her headbots had a lot to say 'bout that," she says with a slow, knowing nod. To Eleanor, she only gives a swift smirk and a wink.
    
    She also, out of the kindness and generosity of her heart, strolls on over to Riley and leans an elbow on his shoulder, so anyone who talks to *her* will seem to be talking to *Riley*. No, no, no need to thank her. The knowledge of the goodness of her deeds is all Ragnell needs to sustain her.

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

Xander smiles at Riley during the dance and OH NO RILEY'S HEART HAS MELTED, why has he not been forcing Xander to dance all along?? Was this the secret to Xander's happiness?? He must ensure he continues dancing always -- but alas this occurs just moments before Xiumei and Eleanor's arrival and things go very quickly downhill from there.

Xander starts trying to dance away from them, and Riley considers this to be a wise course of action and starts to move along with him as he plays, except it seems like Xander trips over something before getting beaned by a coin. Riley winces.

You tried to kill me! I'm not very confident that you're sorry!

Riley freezes. "Ha ha, that bad, huh? No one's ever said that about my playing before!" Riley halts his performance to set a hand on Xander's shoulder, and gives a creaky smile at the small audience they've gathered. "Well, seems like we need to do some more praticing, I think that's it for today, thanks everybody!" He generally tries to wave them away so this talk can proceed more discreetly.

To Xiumei, he hisses a whisper, "I really don't know how to apologize adequately for that, but I'd rather not do the whole thing over again today -- wouldn't you?"

<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.

Xander rubs at his head with a hiss, letting the coin slide off to catch in his other hand. It 'vanishes' like the others, perhaps force of habit after getting into the spirit of the show. He puts his hand to Riley's in brief acknowledgment before getting to his feet, not trusting this to keep from turning to the need to fight or flee or both.

"I know your rate of befriending people we've stabbed is unreasonably high, but I get the feeling sorry doesn't matter right now," he whispers harshly once the rest of the crowd has dispersed while shifting position to place himself between Riley and everyone else. "...If you're looking for a fight, then stop wasting time and get to it."

But it does not seem, today, that Xander is willing to draw first blood. He makes no move to reach for a weapon. He does not seem to have a weapon on him at all -- though he is a guy who demonstratively proved an affinity for hiding what he has.

With Ragnell's approach, Xander shoots the two a look. "Friend of yours?" Not that he expects them to answer. He looks back at Ragnell warily. Headbots? He remembers Xiumei's story about why she has her own devastating abilities. "Whatever the Reploids have to say about it is none of my business."

But then Ragnell leans on Riley, and Xander growls low in his throat in warning, going tense like a wild dog with its hackles raised. "Hey!"

<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.

"Y--You're serious," Xiumei says to Riley. Her eyebrow twitches; some of the humor in her expression fades away, as she looks at Riley for a long moment. She looks at Xander, then, and she frowns -- and she shakes her head once.

"They aren't particularly happy," she admits, to Ragnell and Xander both. She doesn't move to fight, but she folds her arms.

Then the humor comes back as Ragnell walks over right by him. Just like that; he doesn't seem to notice. Her eyes blink.

She glances at Ragnell. "Are... are you just messing with them?" Of course, that means she is looking at Riley, too. Maybe just slightly off-center.

She sighs, when Riley hisses an explanation. She replies in a whisper: "I am not over this but I'd rather not start a fight in the middle of the city! Still, why are you here?"

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

Eleanor picks up quickly what Riley is trying to do. She actually shifts her expression, too--into another smile. "It was a nice show, wasn't it?" she says for the benefit of the audience, likewise helping them to disperse with a wave. Whether people recognize her or not may determine whether they keep looking, but...

"I'm also definitely not over it," Eleanor says in a lower tone of voice, "But I'm not going to start a fight in the middle of the city, no."

She looks back to Ragnell and sighs once, shaking her head. Not so much 'at Ragnell' as 'for Ragnell's benefit. "At least someone's having fun..."

Then, back to Xander, "You're off today so long as I believe people are safer not being involved in this fight. But she has a good question--what are you two doing here?"

She wouldn't be surprised if Ragnell is just messing with them. All the same...

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

    'I know your rate of befriending people we've stabbed is unreasonably high, but...'
    
    "Oh is *that* how you're playin'," Ragnell says, openly amused. "Take it from one scoundrel to another: the Drifter crowd *loves* to make friends with jus' about anybody, up to and *includin'* folks that end up doin' them a violence." She snorts at Xander wondering if she and the ARMS pair are friends, then winks at Eleanor and Xiumei. "Am I right?"
    
    Xiumei admits her headbots aren't too happy about the situation. Ragnell chuckles dryly. "Yeah, I figured that dried-up ol' rustbucket wouldn't be." She smirks at Xiumei. "Not enough chances to perv on cute girls, right?"
    
    She only laughs again as Riley begs for no fighting while Xander sets for a challenge *to* fight. "You two don't believe in communication, do you?" she says cheerfully to the Fangs, not that Riley can hear her. She saunters along with Riley as he attempts to pull up shop and leave, and when Xander makes it clear that he really HATES her being so close to him, Ragnell just leans into it--literally. Now leaning her back on Riley, arms folded over her chest, she bares her teeth at Xander in a broad grin. "Yeah?"
    
    Is she just messing with them? Ragnell winks again at Xiumei. "I'll never tell~." (In other words, Yes.) At Eleanor, she beams. "You know it!" And then to both: "So what'd these chumps try to stab y'all over, anyway?"
    
    She makes no effort to disperse the crowd, but then, the crowd can't see her, so it's all good.

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

Riley is unaware of Ragnell leaning on him, and startles a bit when Xander barks in his direction for her to stop. He can't think of anything he's done to deserve it, at least not in the last few seconds. "What??" he asks, with a flicker of worry in his face. They only just reconciled, things still feel a bit... shaky.

With the addition of the invisible Ragnell, the conversation, in general, starts to veer in a direction he has trouble following, and he blinks at a few exchanges that don't make sense to him.

Are... are you just messing with them?

Assuming that question is for him, Riley replies, "No, it's a genuine performance! You know, for money?"

Still, why are you here?

"We have to be somewhere! We weren't trying to be in the same place as you. We've got a few more weeks probably before we have to..." Riley is still nervous about openly talking about murders in public, even if Xiumei is understandably less inhibited, having been a target and not the perpetrator. "...cause any trouble."

He looks between Xiumei and Eleanor as they both emphasize that they're not over it, and gives a sheepish shrug, trying to think of something he can say to them in apology or thanks for the role they played in stopping the massacre that wouldn't get him in trouble with Xander.

"I... can respect that as a position," he finally says, awkwardly.

<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.

"Do not encourage him!" Xander snaps at Ragnell -- at Riley. And he's beginning to realize that Riley is not perceiving Ragnell's part in this. He stares, then groans and runs his hand over his face. This again.

Xander might have ordinarily relaxed his posture as a show of good faith that he's willing to avoid a fight if they are, but as long as there is a Ragnell in need of ire, Xander remains poised to Start Something. But he still glances Eleanor and Xiumei's direction briefly.

"I don't intend to repeat what I tried in Lindow, if that's what you're asking," he says. "Not that I expect you to believe that." But they did ask. "We need money and a place to sleep. That's all."

That Ragnell's motive to mess with them is implied, unfortunately, does not prevent Xander from being messed with. Xander's eye darkens as he seethes in a barely contained hostility the more she leans against Riley. He grabs hold of Riley to yank him from Ragnell, grip sinking into his arm while he growls at her -- or at empty space to Riley. "Don't."

He's too angry to answer her question, but it wasn't directed at him anyway.

<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.

"That--" Xiumei tries to counter Ragnell's point, but fails. She sighs and her shoulders slump. "...is actually quite accurate."

She shakes her head once, and then she glances at Ragnell. She makes a face once -- and shakes her head. "Varius doesn't really do that... he's, um, a robot? He doesn't really think of humans that way. He mostly seems to regard biology as gross, to be honest." She sighs. "But he says it's 'typical human--'" Her nose wrinkles. "Varius, I am not saying that word."

There might be a sigh inside her head.

She glances at Eleanor for a second. Then, she looks back at Ragnell. "I believe it related to their curse," she explains. "They needed a sacrifice and they didn't realize that I have a profession besides being a clerk."

She looks back at Riley -- blinks -- and then her brow furrows. A few weeks before they must do something? She can guess at that. After all, they had some sort of curse. She doesn't, quite, understand the details. "...all right," she says, with an uneasy sigh. She looks at Xander, then, and she frowns for a second. "So you were... trying to get money to find a place?"

Then, she looks at Xander -- and her eyes widen. There is a surprised look there, at the sudden hostility at Ragnell. "Aah, Ragnell, maybe you shouldn't bother Riley--"

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

Eleanor, too, starts to notice that Riley can't... actually see Ragnell. That makes things--Eleanor's not sure what that makes things. She likes Ragnell but she doesn't exactly expect her to make the citizenry of Klein her safety priority. "He really isn't," Eleanor agrees almost idly about Varius. "...I wonder what the word is."

Pause.

She shakes her head. "I believe you," Eleanor says after a moment instead to Xander, and then to Riley. "It's true that you have to be somewhere. But I don't want any trouble caused here." She stops and then, "...Or anywhere really, but especially not here. But no, if you were here to hurt people you would've done that instead of... dancing."

She considers. "If it's going to keep you out of trouble for even a little longer, I'm willing to help. And I don't mean escort you to a nice jail, though believe me it's crossed my mind."

"...It's complicated," she says to Ragnell.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

    Ah, Ragnell, the homewrecker. So handsome and charming she can even wreck home with a couple of gay dudes. She smirks when Riley expresses uncertainty at Xander's hostility, and outright laughs when Xander snaps at her. "What'm I encouragin' him to do when he can't even see me, my dude?" she drawls. She waves an arm--first in front of Riley's face, then *through* it. It goes through him again when Xander grabs him and yanks him away from her.
    
    To which Ragnell laughs unpleasantly. "Scared I'm gonna steal your man?" she drawls, this time with a bit of bite. Xiumei warns her not to provoke Xander, but Ragnell only grins.
    
    But then Xiumei concedes her first point, then denies her second... or part of it, anyway. She grins again, a different kind of malice glittering on her teeth. "So you admit he's a dried-up ol' rustbucket, at least?" Though at least her laugh is good-natured. "His loss! An' your gain, really, though I s'pect anything of a sensual nature would still be awkward with voices in your head." Eleanor wonders what Varius had said. "I'm guessin' 'bullshit,'" she suggests. As for the murdering, Eleanor only says it's complicated. ...so naturally Xiumei steps up!
    
    A curse, and a sacrifice. Ragnell raises her eyebrows at this. "A curse, huh?" She tilts her head at Xander in curiosity. "What kind o' curse?" she wonders, though it's an open question; given their interactions so far, Xander *probably* is not going to give her that information.
    
    As for Xander and Riley finding lodgings for the night, Ragnell is quite apart from that conversation and doesn't even try to weigh in on it.

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

So you were... trying to get money to find a place?

"Yes, we've been, uh, camping for a while..." Riley hopes the twinge of guilt in his expression does not hint at the fact that their 'camping' spot has an unknown number of bodies buried there now that he has been eager to get some distance from. Xander had a very successful career as a lake monster.

"Actually, it's been a very strange few weeks.." Riley shoots a meaningful, perhaps faintly accusing glance at Xander.

If it's going to keep you out of trouble for even a little longer, I'm willing to help.

"Really?" Riley's eyes sparkle at the prospect of another unlikely peacemaking, and he doesn't point out that housing them will be unlikely to have an impact on their murder rate.

"That's so nice of you -- I'd love to -- stay somewhere other than jail!"

Their act has been successful enough that they could afford an inn, but saving the money could mean more time in civilization... honestly more than anything Riley just enjoys the validation of 'befriending people they've stabbed,' as Xander put it (even though the two of them have already emphasized that things are not cool).

Though the chances of Xander allowing them to accept the generosity of someone they've stabbed seem... low.

Also there's a whole side conversation about robots now, where did that come from?? Riley pauses as the combination of Xander pulling him over and then growling at nothing and Xiumei addressing an unseen 'Ragnell' click the mystery into place, even if Ragnell sticking her hand through his head doesn't register at all.

"Is there an invisible person here??" he asks, perking up with curiosity and looking around like he's going to see the person he can't see. He knows they are called Seraphim but has, possibly, forgotten.

<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.

Xander meets Riley's accusing look with a flat one of his own. "Whose fault is that?!" Both, Xander. It's both.

Xiumei trying to explain herself always leaves Xander with more questions. Headbots, Reploids, speaking to someone Xander can't see... At some point, maybe he'll stop being surprised. (Never.) "We're not exactly 'polite company', you know," he says on the matter of forbidden words.

When Eleanor offers to help, Xander cannot move to cover Riley's mouth fast enough. He groans, hand twitching uselessly in the air instead. "Riley. You are being just as bad as them," he whispers again. He looks back to the pair. "Look, we're not here to ruin your date." It's a guileless remark, free of any intent to tease. But that Eleanor is particularly protective of this place isn't lost on him. She'd be protective of any place, he thinks, but it's more incentive to keep out of trouble while they're here. Not that Riley would be keen to let him.

But Ragnell sets fire to Xander's kindling with every additional word she speaks. He sets his jaw, fangs bared, and grip clawing further into Riley's arm. Her attempt to provoke him turns him red in the face. "Sh-shut up!" is all he manages to stammer.

That Ragnell and Riley are no longer in contact calms him enough to hear her question past the red (green?) haze in his eye. He breathes a tch and gestures toward Xiumei, who did her best to sum the whole idea up. Riley's gotten on his case enough about closure that Xander's already been worn down on telling people. It isn't as if it's some major secret. "We kill or we die. Blame Valmar. The end."

Tragically, getting past Xander's reluctance didn't make him any better at explaining it.

Is there an invisible person here??

"Yes."

<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.

"I-It's important to be polite, regardless of the company or cicumstances," Xiumei stammers out. She sighs, and shakes her head.

Then, she blinsk, and shakes her head. "I-It's not a date! I'm... assisting her with wedding planning."

Xiumei glances to the side. Then, at Ragnell. "Ah, well... I've been taught to say nothing if the only thing to say is mean," Xiumei answers Ragnell concerning Varius's status as a rustbucket. She smiles and pushes her glasses up with one finger.

She doesn't answer the bit about voices in her head. That, it happens, is private.

She glances sideways at Eleanor, and considers for a second. Is it wise to give them a place to stay? "Well... as long as it's not the same hotels that are holding the wedding guests," she tells Eleanor. Then, she looks at Riley and Xander. "Ah, I don't mean offense."

But they might try to murder smeone.
Shehe looks at Riley, then, and sighs. "Y-Yes. A Seraph. Ah, and I have two robots inside of me." She hesitates. "It is something of a long story."

Xander explains to Ragnell. She frowns, a little, at the explanation.

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

"It's not a date!" Eleanor says at the same time as Xiumei, though she glances to her then and back to the others, "...Right. For my wedding." Pause. "My wedding that is not to her."

But polite company or not, "I'm not just being nice," Eleanor admits of her offer. "I just prefer to the alternative of you having to hurt or rob someone." A pause, "Oh, I doubt they'd accept it if I made reservations myself. I was just going to hand him some money." Pause. "I don't especially care about offense."

She's really sour over that whole stabbing Xiumei thing.

Probably the word was bullshit. "She's really not going to try to take him, for the record. Believe me."

she does not eplain the robots either. Instead, "Yes, there's an invisible person here, and your friend doesn't like her very much."

"...As for the curse that's basically it as far as I know. And the solution we had to the last Valmar curse we know of is right out." Pause. "...Doesn't it feel weird to go through someone like that, though?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

    Camping, huh. There's something a little shifty about the way that Riley says that, but Ragnell doesn't bother calling him on it. Either they were doing something untoward or they weren't, and it's not like it would be news to Xiumei or Eleanor if they were. She does chuckle when Riley declares he'd love to stay somewhere other than jail, though.
    
    She pauses, though, when Xander refers to Eleanor and Xiumei as being on a 'date' and Xiumei immediately gets flustered and protests and says she's just 'helping with the wedding.' Eleanor echoes this. She looks at the two again with an assessing gaze, thoughtful, first at both, then at Xiumei, then finally at Eleanor. "Your maid of honor?" she asks, tone neutral.
    
    She does chuckle at Xiumei's response, though.
    
    Xander at least gives a brief rundown of the curse. "Oh, that so," she says, completely unruffled by the fact that he's apparently a murderer. The kind of person she is might be further implied when she adds, "You two know someone named Neriah?"
    
    Eleanor says the last Valmar curse solution is out. "Oh? An' what's *that*?" Does it feel weird to pass through someone like that, though? "Usually not! Neriah was a *big* exception, though."

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

Riley gives Xander a questioning smile and a bit of a quirk of his brow as Xander's grip on his arm begins to strive to cut off his circulation. "Is this one a handsome invisible stranger?" Xander is acting extra weird about them, if such a thing is possible.

I-It's not a date! I'm... assisting her with wedding planning.

"You two are getting married already?? Can we come? Just kidding. Totally understand if you want to keep us away from your guests. And yourselves. And your--"

My wedding that is not to her.

Riley hesitates, and then makes a wordless sound of awkwardness that transliterates roughly to "Ooouuuuugh." He gives Xander a rare look of 'help' like he's going to know how to diffuse literally any of this.

"Uhhhh, yeah, so, uh-- Sorry, wait, you guys have solved a Valmar curse? If it involves killing them and then purifying their body I don't want to know..."

<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.

"Wedding planning?" Xander falters, looking between both of them in unguarded surprise and exchanging a helpless look with Riley. A cold realization begins to settle in. It's none of his business, he reminds himself. "Sorry," he says, and there's a sudden softness in it in contrast to his tone before. "I misunderstood."

But he's searching their reactions to that in spite of himself. It would certainly be better for everyone if he did, in fact, simply misunderstand.

"Uh," Xander stares at Xiumei. "You're allowed to mean offense." He points at Eleanor, who thankfully backs up the idea that this is appropriate. Please, someone have a normal level of indignation about something.

And yet Eleanor wants to give them money. Xander stops his pointing to toss her an exasperated look. Appropriateness rescinded. Pragmatic as she claims this to be, there's a certain nausea at the idea of receiving charity from people they've attempted to kill in the past. Pragmatic as he is... He does not bring himself to raise an objection.

When Ragnell asks about Neriah, Xander stiffens again. He's not particularly skilled in hiding his emotions, and it may not be the same fervor he had in his eye when he grabbed Riley, there's still something defensive in the way his gaze hardens. "What does that matter?"

Xander's brow twitches at the implication this invisible stranger may be a handsome one. "She isn't really your type," he concedes grumpily, because he wants to be mad anyway. "But no, she isn't a Normin." Beinfu isn't what he would describe as 'handsome' either, but, unfortunately, that's the misunderstanding context Xander's stuck with.

<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.

'My wedding that is not to her.'

Zhang Xiumei's smile never falters. She just adjusts her glasses slightly -- the sun hits them, reflecting and hiding her eyes. She learned to smile in a way that never lets anything show a long time ago. It's a shame that it also speaks volumes, too.

She doesn't answer Ragnell's question to Eleanor, because it wasn't directed to her. Xiumei's eyes turn towards Xander, then. She hesitates, before she shakes her head. "I'm not very good at meaning offense," she says. "I don't think I really have it in me. Sorry."

It probably doesn't help that she apologizes, she thinks.

Xiumei glances back at Riley, then. "No, but... there were a lot of special circumstances. Eleanor can probably explain better." After all, when it comes to matters sorcerous, she is the expert.

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

Camping. And... Eleanor lifts an eyebrow when Riley asks if they can come, even when he says he's kidding. But that isn't technically a 'no'. Technically. Because it goes without saying, obviously. But when Xander says he misunderstood, and sounds all soft about it, Eleanor is briefly caught off-guard, and hesitates. "Ah, that's--"

'Maid of honor?' She looks to Ragnell instead and for some reason looks more composed. "Mm-hm," she answers, straightening her shoulders. "...I can imagine Neriah would be an exception," Eleanor says to Ragnell. And then...

Well, and then she reaches into her pouch and pulls a few more coins to hand to Riley. But before she does that she says, "She's like that," of Xiumei and offense. "She's a very sweet person, actually." Her voice for some reason is icier as the explains this though.

But before she hands over any coins she says, "Well, we nearly had to kill her," Eleanor admits. "...It was a complex situation, but it worked out primarily because Neriah absorbed the curse rather than allowing it to be passed on to one of us. I don't know that we'd be capable of containing it otherwise, and I'm not inclined to ask for her help in making her even more dangerous, which is why I'm not trying to imprison you until I can find a solution."

"...And we nearly killed our friend as it was getting it out of her. I'm not sure you would survive the process." She pauses, and then offers the coins forth. It's a good chunk of money. "The port district will ask the fewest awkward questions of a couple of travelers."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

    Ragnell snorts when Riley shoves his foot way, *way* down his throat, but doesn't otherwise comment on it. No point if he can't hear, and it's not as fun if someone else has to pass on the message. It sounds like Xander is *also* aware of Xiumei's status as Maid Of Honor, so to speak; Ragnell glances at him, but once again keeps her mouth shut. Ragnell? Being discreet? It's more likely than you think!
    
    "I take it you do," she says instead when Xander stiffens and gets defensive. Then she shrugs. "Doesn't really matter, I s'pose. Jus' wondered if y'all were workin' together. She never mentioned y'all--but then, we haven't talked shop in ages, so I guess it follows."
    
    Xiumei apologizes for not being harder on the people who tried to murder her. Ragnell chuckles and shakes her head. Eleanor confirms she is her maid of honor, and Ragnell nods. "I see," she says simply, and that's that. Instead, she chuckles regarding Neriah. "Yeah, right? Not that I knew that at the time. This was before we got t' know each other, as it were."
    
    And now Eleanor explains the curse, and of course, that it was specifically Neriah's. Ragnell rubs her chin in consideration. "Hmmm... So that's what happened, huh." She chuckles and hooks her thumbs in her belt loops. "Yeah, makes sense." She tilts her head at Xander. "Too bad for you."
    
     "'Not a Normin,' huh?" Ragnell then notes at Xander, flagrantly ignoring his grouchiness. "Does that mean you've met Bienfu? An' if you've met *him*..."
 
  She doesn't mention Magilou. Does she really need to?

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

She isn't really your type.

"My type?" Riley echoes back, with growing amusement. "I imagine not. But then why are you growling at her like she's trying to eat your dinner?"

Eleanor and Xander have an exchange about money, and Eleanor clarifies outright that she's not offering out of kindness. Riley's shoulders droop a bit. "Either way, we won't cause any harm here. I... owe you from before, and I repaid you in... you know..." he gestures vaguely. "Arrows. So we can at least be nice visitors for a bit. You may not believe me, but we get vacations from having to be evil."

He won't point out that Xander's philosophy while they were apart had been to just kill steadily so Valmar wouldn't even have to push them to it with the thorns. He intends to take a normal vacation for a while, anyway, the kind with no murder at all.

"Oh--" Eleanor deposits some coins into his hand, with affectionate words about Xiumei that sound a bit like a warning.

"Honestly I'm delighted either of you are even willing to talk to us," he says with a wincing smile. "I'll try not to make you regret it quite so quickly this time."

There is also the talk of dealing with the curse, and the role Neriah played in freeing someone else they knew from it, only to take the Part on herself. Wouldn't that be something... "....Nearly killed?" He hates the hope that creeps into his voice with the question. It feels like every time he starts hoping, they end up worse off than they started.

<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.

Xiumei apologizes and Xander buries his face in his hands. But it's that unwavering, unshaken smile that's going to be needling him uncomfortably. So is the defensive way Eleanor speaks of her. Should he say something? Why would they listen to him? Maybe he does have the wrong idea. Yes, these are people he would probably try to murder later, but some mistakes shouldn't be made!

Riley tells Eleanor he owes her from before and Xander squints at him unhappily, but resigns himself to silence. He lets Riley accept the money with little more than an awkward glance aside.

"She has her own problems, and we have ours," Xander says of Neriah. It's probably best to keep from implicating each other in anything.

The talk of the cure brings the annoyance back into Xander's tone. "It isn't as if we haven't tried to fix this ourselves. Whether it's Neriah or it's Purification, the result is the same -- all any of that does, in the end, is keep someone else from taking the curse. We're forfeit."

The hope in Riley's voice stings. Xander feels it, too. But Neriah may be right. They're going to have to embrace this, sooner or later...

An' if you've met *him*...

"Yes," Xander answers, but about three times as irritated before. His eye stares off into the distance in a way that suggests this time his nerves are frayed by someone other than Ragnell. Across space and time, without her presence necessary.

Magilou is that powerful.

Xander looks back at Riley with another growl because he has no self control and barely any self awareness. "Because she --!" Mentioning either the catcalling or the touching are equally humiliating, and Xander's tongue tangles trying to find the words before he lets out a strangled, frustrated utterance. "I-It doesn't matter!"

<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.

Xiumei frowns, but nods her head at Eleanor's explanation. It isn't something they can just use for Riley and Xander; they certainly cannot risk empowering Neriah further. She hesitates a moment, though, at the question that Riley poses. Then, she says: "...The person wasn't human. Which might have played a factor into whether it's survivable."

After all, humans aren't really the same. She does blink, though -- eyes turning from Riley to Ragnell. She keeps quiet, but there is a flicker of recognition. She remembers Magilou from when they fought the Fangs.

The conflict that goes on about whether to interject into Xiumei's life goes missed by her. Perhaps it is something too close to her to really spot. She looks at Xander, then at Riley, and she glances down for a moment.

"We'll see if we can figure something out," she says. She hesitates. "And... Eleanor's right. The port district is probably the best way to not raise questions."

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

"...You did," Eleanor answers Riley. "But you don't have to right now." Repay her that way, that is. But talking... "Well, there's that. I prefer to talk. When it's possible." And then... "Xiumei's right. She wasn't human."

Ragnell is discreet and Eleanor looks at her briefly, but actually saying 'thank you' would defeat the purpose so it's just in her eyes a moment.

"...Right." They've tried it themselves. And they've met... Ah. Of course. Magilou.

"...Well, I'd say 'take care', but I think you know how I'd mean it." Pause. "...I'll be watching."

She turns to Xiu. "...Come on. We have more work to do."

Mistakes??? What mistakes. It's fine.

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

I-It doesn't matter!

"I really want to know now..." Riley protests. He puts his hands alongside Xander's face and squeezes his eyes shut. "Mind meld with me, Xander...!! I want to see what you see!!!"

This is of course, nonsense, and not a legitimate way for anyone to share Resonance.

...but... the Fangs have a literal soul connection, and Riley has a strange habit of getting the things he asks the universe for, so long as the things he asks for are sufficiently inconsequential and dumb.

And so, when he opens his eyes and releases Xander, Riley has Resonance.

He quickly spots the new face among them. "--Ahaha! I did it!? Hi there." He grins at Ragnell, momentarily a bit drunk with power at this odd success. "What's he so embarrassed about!"

...The person wasn't human. Which might have played a factor into whether it's survivable.

"Oh. Ugh. Well... I mean..." he glances at Xander. It seems like whatever method this is, survival would be a... surprising outcome. "Maybe we won't jump into trying that, then..." It doesn't even sound like they're up for it.

...Well, I'd say 'take care', but I think you know how I'd mean it." Pause. "...I'll be watching.

"Thanks for not fighting us!" comes the weirdly cheerful farewell.

... He'll unpack that whole 'Eleanor is marrying some random person who isn't Xiumei' deal with Xander later...

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Ragnell has posed.

    It's fine, Eleanor. Ragnell knows.
    
    She does give Xiumei a thoughtful look when she says that person wasn't human, but she lets that slide for now. Instead, she chuckles at Riley and his question to Xander. "Yeah, Xander, why're you growlin' at me like I stole your dinner?" she drawls. She just nods on the matter of Neriah, but laughs outright at his harsh little yes. "Yeah, I figured," she says in amusement.
    
    She's about to follow up with that when Riley makes a declaration, grabs Xander's face, and then suddenly *pop!*s with Resonance. She blinks in surprise at him, genuinely amazed--and grins back. "Well, howdy!" Her grin only widens. "Hmmm... I wonder?"
    
    "Well, it sounds like y'all are wrappin' this conversation up, an' the performance is over, so I'mma do my own thing. Later, party people."
    
    And she lifts a hand in casual farewell and strolls off in another direction.

<Pose Tracker> Xander Lovell has posed.

Xander flinches, staring back at Riley as his face is taken. "What are you -- hey -- Riley --!"

Not in front of -- everybody?!

Then... it works.

Xander's mouth drops open as Riley greets Ragnell. He lifts a finger, but all that comes from his throat are broken utterances. Briefly, he considers that Riley has been messing with him this whole time, but, no. That doesn't check out. It worked.

"........ HOW?!"

Everyone seems to be going off on their own way, and Xander's out of energy to give a civil farewell. He drops his face into his hands and shakes his head back and forth, possibly trying to hide whatever face he's making as much as express his disbelief at the universe.

<Pose Tracker> Riley Arwell has posed.

"She didn't tell me...!" Riley says, with stunned dissappointment, as Ragnell greets him and then promptly peaces out.

Seraphim... are cruel!?