Greed wasn't exactly interested in Ronotnik's whole thing. As the good doctor elucidated on his importance, the homunculus couldn't keep his attention from drifting away. At first, he stared at the empty mead cup on his hand. Then, he stuck his pinky in his left ear, trying to clear it up. Finally, his gaze naturally drifted towards the bot.

At which point he finally realized that he cared so little, he couldn't really remember who Ronotnik was

"Eh?" Greed murmured, confused. "Well, uh, I don't know how to do that. Think about your Mom or your life choices, that tends to get my goons depressed." He answered, glancing around just in time to catch one of said goons shaking his head. Greed thought about it then clicked his tongue. "Oh... you mean sleeping pills."

Leaning forward with a smile, Greed poked the beetle robot in its cutesy little face. "Aren't you a doctor, doc? Can't you just prescribe something for yourself?"

Edited by Stratofarius on Jan 13th 2021 at 11:06:49 AM

Zone Six: Rum-Eyed Rufus’s

Jester was having a good time, chatting with friends both new and old, enjoying the delightfully-singeing sweetness of her steaming beverage, and even marveling in starry-eyed wonder at the display of the doggo who’d followed them in balancing a bowl of sloshing black liquid on her head before setting it down and lapping at it adorably.

But it wasn’t too long before Jester’s attention was taken up by the bane of all enterprising artists everywhere; a critic who just didn’t get their work. Jester grew more and more riled into a huff as Kayne made her claims, inching closer and closer to Helena for both physical and moral support as her fellow medic no-doubt geared up to tell this poser-doctor to take a hike—only for the pseudo-angel to lapse into the ultimate betrayal by volunteering Jester instead, which would have been shocking and out-of-character if it hadn't also actually been pretty funny. Prank lest ye be pranked, after all.

“Well, Miss Doctor Kayne Lady, if that is your real name. If you were a real doctor like me and Helena, then you’d know that art actually makes people feel better, not worse. In fact, the thing that actually makes people feel bad is working all the time, when they could be hanging out and having fun instead! Look at Everett, he’s got the right idea!” Jester said, gesturing emphatically to where Everett was slouched over next to an empty glass, busy having a minor religious experience with a cheeseburger.

“In fact, I know how to make him feel even better, watch this~.” With that, Jester’s smile split into a devilish grin befitting her heritage, before reaching down to her waist and absent-mindedly unclipping what appeared to be a small religious symbol—a simple archway, with a road stretching through it leading beyond into parts unknown. Clipping it to the fabric on the sleeve about her wrist, Jester closed her eyes and murmured a few, indecipherable mutterings—and just like that, there was another Jester standing right next to her, mirroring her stance down to her expression, at least until her doppelganger opened one eye and smiled impishly before raising her hand to her mouth to suppress a silent titter, followed by raising a single finger to her lips as if to signal to the others not to give up the ploy.

“Heeeeeey Everett!” Jester said, leaning forward onto Everett’s table on her elbows, using her body to block his view of the existence of her new doppelganger even as the duplicate climbed down under the table between them, the physical Jester's tail whipping aimlessly behind her. “Helena was saying that you should really be careful with that drink, because you might just, *giggle*, start seeing double! Here, how many fingers am I holding up?” Jester said, before reaching out with five fingers fully spread—only for her duplicate to then reach up through the bottom of the table from where she’d crouched underneath it, lacing her illusory hand through Jester’s all-too solid one in such a way that it looked as though the tiefling were somehow displaying eight fingers, all at once.

Edited by Uncandescent on Jan 14th 2021 at 3:43:37 PM

Kothys, Zone One:

"It's prototype testing," Elerin mouthed to themselves as they took the coffee from the tray with as much care as they could muster. "Thank you," they said. A habit and formality learned and ingrained into their existence by mimicking others, particularly Leo who was nearby them. Elerin added a quick smile at the end of it before it vanished. At the mention of sugar, they extended their hand towards the complimentary substance in the shape of boxes. What looked like a tendril which connected the arm and the hand of a human body pulsed with color of red. However, Elerin snatched it quickly enough to not cause much disturbance in the cafe.

I haven't tried it with sugar. Yes, that is indeed true. New combination, might be worth trying. "Have a go at it..." I wish this is the right application of it.

Then, Bondrewd and his... child arrived to Kothys as well. "Hello," Elerin said, as others have said it, or a phrase equivalent to it. They noted Bnodrewd favorite gesture of extending arms. Why does he do that, I wonder? Is it to appear... um... more "presentable", "charis...matic"? Unable to answer the question themselves, Elerin registered that motion to themselves, for the day it will be used for appropriate situations.

A noise from distance made Elerin take a quick glance at it. They, realizing that the place was gathering people decided to leave it be. Elerin's focus shifted to Bondrewd, or rather, the reason he came to this place. Just like Johanna noted, the current day might be the day for expedition towards the everlasting unknown, the Incoherence. Should I volunteer again for the Druaghtsmen? This will help... establish a good cooperative relationship, as it's said. I'll first listen to him, and then decide.

Elerin poured the white substance into the black liquid. They sipped the drink, while waiting for Bondrewd's answer and explanation.

Hm. Exquisite, if that is the right word.

Edited by kaalban on Jan 16th 2021 at 4:32:28 AM

Zone Four — Konohana Park

A young man sits by the lake, seemingly focused on a book he's reading. He glances over the surrounding area a little bit, then he went back to reading. He hummed a bit while doing so, clearly enjoying himself.

Setsuna — Zone 6, Egress

"FLUFFYWUFFYHUGGY...wuggy...huggywuggyfuggy...

By now, the fuzzy fluffball had been squeezed so much, there wasn't much fluff left to go around. "Blarg." She tossed it aside, shooting up out of her seat as she tried to get her bearings. "Whoa! World spinny-winny..."

She staggered over to Jester and co, not really sure what she was doing other than she needed to do something. She couldn't just sit around and let herself wallow in... in...

...what was she wallowing in again?

Eh. It'd come to her later.

She doubled over, chortling at the two Jesters even if she wasn't sure what she was chortling at. "Oh, that's, uh, that's funny! Cuz, like, he thinks he's wasted, and maybe he is, but there's two of them, so he thinks there's two of them, cuz there is, and I should probably be tearing both your damn heads off but fuck if I know why and I think I need to sit down now..."

She stumbled over to Helena, near tumbling over the table as she struggled not to crash into the angel lady. "Oh, sorry angel lady! Like, everyone knows you're an angel lady cuz you got wings! Real pretty, fluffy wuffy wings! Fluffy wuffy fuzzy-wuzzy pretty-ritty wings..."

She shook her head, trying to shake off the stupor and regain whatever last vestige remained of her sobriety. "Oh, uh, morning Helena! I think. Like, uh, I don't know if its morning cuz it's never really morning around here, but you've gotta be Helena, cuz you're only the bigass angel lady here tall as me! I mean, um, you're the only angel lady here, but I'm not gonna hold it against ya! Like, I've got plenty of things to hold against ya, but that ain't one of them. I think? I mean, I don't think, but I think we've got that figured out, ya know?"

Edited by kkhohoho on Jan 14th 2021 at 8:57:03 AM

Zone 4 - Konohana Park

"Well, if your profession requires such haste, perhaps it is fortuitous that you stopped to greet me," Neraida replies. "What you describe sounds truly beautiful. A forest in a giant tree that perpetually remains on autumn's edge? Fascinating."

Of course, she would never be able to see such a thing in person. Here, though, in such a strange and artificial society, a retelling was more than enough.

...To her dismay, after wondering about such things for a moment, she realized she had made Elliot feel uncomfortable. That wouldn't do, of course - not only had he been kind enough to greet her unprompted, but he had also been generous enough to take time out of his duties as a messenger and even tell her a story of his world. Her obligation now, of course, was to pay that back.

"I offer my apologies for having caused you distress, ah... Elliot. Please do not assume malice on my part - I am simply used to addressing people that way."

Zone Six

Helena couldn't help but chuckle just a bit at Everett’s seemingly religious experience over his cheeseburger. The kitchen staff must really be putting in their all today!

"Oh, I was just saying Jester brings me stuff from the garden sometimes. Maybe I could stop by and visit one of these days."

Oliver Sudden™, Jester started goofing it up with her powers again. It seemed the game of pranks had escalated, and they were now reaching defcon 1 on the Whacky Scale.

"Oh dear! You're already subjecting my new friend to your nefarious schemes! Tsk Tsk, this is so like you. Well, we'll see how you like it when angelmania runs wild on you, sister!"

Before Helena could show off her pro wrestling moves - or whatever she was going to do - she has to move out of the way to avoid the incoming Setsuna.

"That was a close one! Wait, what do you want to hold against me, Setsy?"

A slight blush appeared on her cheeks. It was gonna be one of those days, she could tell.

Zone Six; Industrial District

"Ah."

That's as far as you get. Before you can even think of anything else to say, Jester is suddenly getting right in your face. As she leans forward you lean back, because that four-eyed, four-horned, impishly grinning visage is just a bit too close for comfort.

Or maybe she isn't really that close, and the alcohol is messing with your depth perception. You don't know.

Anyway, the stuff she just said sinks in. And as she lifts up her fingers, you can't help but let that crooked smile form again. "Wellllll," you drawl, "I mmmmmmight be at that point alllready, but I'll check…”

And so, you peer at her hand.

You blink. Your smile slowly becomes a frown. "What the…?"

Your hand, unbeknownst to you, comes up. You mouth the count silently, your index finger ticking off each that you see. You have to start over once or twice because her hand is trying to divide itself just like Kayné was a second ago, but eventually you finish.

"Sixteen?" That can't possibly be right. You know you’re drunk, but you can't be that drunk. Even if you were going cross-eyed—which you definitely are—you think you'd need an extra pair of eyes to be seeing that many fingers on one hand. So what the hell is…?

That red-and-white-and-black blur stumbles over, coming into vague focus. You were right. It is Setsuna, though she's grown an extra head since you saw her last. She sounds about as drunk as you feel, and you blink as you try to make sense of her babble. "Two of them…?"

And then it clicks.

"Oh. I get it." You snort. "Some kinda… 'llusion, isn't it. Verrrry funny, Re—"

You stop cold. You realize what almost came out of your mouth. What name.

Whose name.

It would have been just like him to pull this kind of trick on you. And you would have taken it in stride. Because pranking people was just what he did.

For a moment you sit as still as a statue. Then you take another bite of your burger. You might as well be biting into a hunk of Styrofoam because the taste is gone. Or maybe the taste is still there, but it just isn't registering anymore. Maybe you've lost your appetite.

Wouldn't be the only thing you’ve lost.

You hang your head. "…Maybe I should go. I think I'm just going to drag the mood down."

Setsuna — Zone 6, Egress

"Uh, lots of things! Like, uh, hold on a minute there..."

What was she holding against her again? She tried to remember, but it was like sifting through a sea of rotten booze. You could barely get through it without drenching yourself in muck, and when you did, it was like finding a needle in a haystack.

But eventually, she found the damn needle.

"OH YEAH! Like, that time we both got totally wasted and you said 'hey, you're hogging the bench', and I said 'no, you're hogging the bench', and then we beat the shit out of each other till we got thrown out on our fucking asses. Think you nearly tore a horn off." Sure enough, there was a modest crack in one of Setsuna's horns, right at the base. Large enough for someone with an angel-sized grip to wrench it off if they put in the effort.

"Like, I think I'm over it? Sorta? I mean, I think I got a few feathers, so I guess we're good? But I'd probably kick your ass anyway if the world wasn't spinny-winny..." She jostled in her seat, near going crosseyed as the world slowly came back into view. "But, uh, I dunno. Maybe I might do it anyway? Depends on the mood. I kinda wanna kick my own ass, but I always wanna kick my own ass, so, um, it's not like that's anything special?"

Edited by kkhohoho on Jan 14th 2021 at 9:15:34 AM

Jengbish: Zone One, Central Business District, Corner of Seventh & Ninth Street

In those blurred days before the signing of the Charter, Jengbish had ordered this thoroughfare himself.

The work was all long gone by now of course, the high arch of Heaven erased wholesale by Diet metacensure and all else consumed by commerce inoffensive to their taste, but the space could not escape the dimmest memories of his stylistic flourish. The squared-off roofs curled upwards almost imperceptibly at their corners, here and there between the cobblestones the scrub still clung to life, and at certain shades and certain angles the reds still recalled their preternatural vibrancy. It was no longer his, but the breeze still bid him silent welcome. Even here, between the highest walls man could dream, the four winds still gently blew.

There could be no better place for the yaksha's little tea shop. It was an establishment as offputting in form as it was in purpose, conjured by a sensibility grasping out in desparation for the ken of human reasoning; a shrine lain brick by brick to clothe a dream lain naked in its impossibility. Yaksha or abominable or whatever it was he truly was, the thing called Moloch Kothys prayed there tirelessly for salvation from his essential nature.

At that particular moment, he might have settled for dishcloth. Jengbish met him with a stiff bow, and so too the mutants and constructs and children he had come to call his comrades.

"My usual, Moloch," he said, stooping through the doorway. "When you are finished."

The interior had never agreed with him, humility twisted by three layers of creamy-white and strategic potted plants into the queerest kind of ostentation; he could never help his smile when he saw that hideous tablecloth. There was no accounting for taste, and from a yaksha little use in comprehending it. His tea, on the other hand, was exceptional.

He drew his sidearm from its maglock as he approached, an exotic underslung stubber◊ of the FN-Herstal pattern fresh from the market.

"Maia," he said, beaming at the table as he set the weapon down. His seat creaked quietly in protest, but did not buckle. "Prushka. Look what I've found."

Zone Four — Konohana Park

"Admittedly, still getting the hang of it. At least it's like being an explorer, where it's good to be quick on your feet and mind."

Considering Neraida's reaction about the forest, he couldn't help but nod in agreement, yet look a little disappointed.

"Kind of wish I had one of those camera...things before I ended up here, would've had plenty of pictures instead of just stories to tell. But it is what it is. At least if there's something like a forest out there in the incoherence, might be able to bring back a photo or something." Elliot shrugged, trying not to sound too upset about it...only to go right back to being slightly flustered.

"A-And no, i-it's quite alright, it's just been quite a few years since someone's addressed me like that, is all. B-But that's kind of a story for another day."

Considering half of the time most seemed content to just give him a letter or instructions rather than wanting to make small talk, it was nice to have a conversation while on the job. Although it did mean it took him a second glance to notice the other figure reading a book and gave a friendly wave.

"Good morning! ...Or afternoon! Time's kind of weird here so it could be either!"

Shinano

Shinano seeing that the situation with Violet and the coffee spill is being dealt with by the others goes to head into the cafe to get herself a small meal before she goes to drop off her report to the guild. As she's crossing the street she sees a rather tall man entering the cafe after talking to the proprietor.

Once inside she sees that Prushka has acquired a table for herself and her father. Knowing that it might be a little while until the proprietor returns she finds a table to sit at and wait for them. After a while she slips into a light sleep, her breathing slows as she does so.

Edited by Sathzur on Jan 17th 2021 at 9:41:28 AM

The robot's own programming took over for a brief moment, leaving it indignant after it was so terribly poked. It waved its spiked limbs at him, entirely ineffectually due to the narrow degree of movement provided to them. It then snapped back to mapping Robotnik's own mannerisms and motions.

"Of course! I will just call my mother and let her tell me how disappointed she is in me, and then prescribe myself some of what I'm already looking for...oh wait! I'm a doctor of robotics, aeronautical engineering and structural engineering but not in any medical field. Forgive me, Greed. When you get to be my age, sometimes you just forget things a little more easily than you otherwise would." The bug-machine did whatever it could to sneer with its limited face.

"To dispense with the sarcasm, it's not like degrees matter around here...or in general! The average doctor in Concordia has never gone to university or education at all. I'm quite skilled in matters of surgery, yes, but I would rather do things discreetly. Yes, sleeping pills, or whatever else you can get me that provides a similar soporific effect. That means sleep-inducing, in case you weren't aware."

"What could I possibly owe you in return, Mr. Greed?"

Zone Six: Rum-Eyed Rufus’s

If there was anything, anywhere on this big pile of people, places, and things known as Concordia that could make Jester change her opinion on someone in a flash, it was finding out that someone thought that pranks were funny. Specifically, thinking that her pranks were funny.

Which was how Jester somehow found herself out of her seat, resting one of her hands on Setsuna’s oversized shoulders for support, while her other arm was wrapped around her own ribcage and valiantly fought off a persistent, invading case of the Giggles. “It’s true though!" Jester said between laughs, "When drunk people think there’s two people, but there really are two people, it makes their head go alllllll the way around! You’ve seen it too, right Helena?” Jester asked, glancing at her fellow medic, before zeroing in on Helena’s blush—which, she was actually pretty sure was probably from the alcohol, but it would be pretty funny to tease her anyway. Jester’s smile slid all of the way up the scale, right past Impish and squarely into Devilish, as she began to bump her hip against Setsuna’s in time with the sing-song rhythm of her words. “I~don’t~think~that~I’m~the~one~about~to~catch~a~case~of~angelmaniaaaaaaa~.” Jester said, before stretching out the last word long enough for her illusory self to climb out from underneath the table and deliver a silent yet triumphant high-five.

Looking for a coup de gras on turning her fellow medic’s face so red that it exploded, Jester looked over to Everett for an assist—only to find that, inexplicably, the blue-skinned man’s mood had worsened, to the point where Jester was beginning to think he hadn't been given a very happy Happy Hour drink at all. “Don’t be silly, silly!” Jester said, with a dismissive wave in front of his goggle-laden eyes. “Bars are where you’re supposed to go when you’re sad. That’s why they’re filled with fun new people, doing fun new things, and having a fun new time! Listen!” Jester said, as a new song began to start up in the background, and—despite never having heard the tune in her life before that exact moment—began grooving to it in place, her janky, jerky movements just about disguising the fact that she had no idea what she was doing. “I, love, this song. Come dance with me!” She said, reaching out her hand to Everett, aggressively clasping and unclasping her hand in a classic ‘Gimme!’ motion. To bring the point home, she proceeded to attempt to bump her hip against Setsuna’s own hip one more time, now with some force behind it, attempting to send the inebriated oni stumbling directly towards both Helena and the dancefloor, hoping that one of them might pick up on her incredibly subtle hint. If they started dancing, great. If Helena’s face actually exploded, even better.

Edited by Uncandescent on Jan 16th 2021 at 4:42:57 AM

Setsuna

Setsuna wasn't sure if the booze was settling down or she'd gone so crosseyed that reality snapped back into place, but she'd started to sober up a tad before Jester started bumping her hips. Lucky for her, she couldn't remember the doggo assault. She knew she should've been pissed at her for something, but damn if she could remember what.

Instead, she found herself blushing as the demon lady bumped her hips against hers to the rhythm, barely parsing Jester's words as she burst into song. But... it wasn't so bad? Like, maybe it was her own childish sense of humour coming through, or maybe it was the booze, but she couldn't stop giggling as she made an ass of herself.

It was only when Jester sent her careening towards Helena that she figured out what she was singing about and, more importantly, who she was singing about. But it wasn't like she had a chance to protest. Stumbling towards Helena, she tried to get out of the way, only to send herself and possibly the angel lady crashing down towards the dance floor.

She staggered back up, rubbing her oni ass as she found herself on the floor and square under the spotlight. Part of her thought about rushing off the stage and curling up in the corner, but the other part wanted to get down and boogie. And maybe it was the booze talking, but Helena didn't look half-bad a dancing partner.

...eh, fuck it.

Back on her feet, she outstretched her hand and threw caution to the wind, sheepishly turning her head without averting her gaze. "Uh, like, I think we both kinda know what she's getting at? But, um, hey! Nothing wrong with playing along, right?"

Zone 6

It’s a good thing Jester was handling Everett right now, because this particular doctor was a bit distracted at the moment.

“Eek!”

That was the rather elegant noise Helena made when she noticed Setsuna’s cracked horn. Frequently, she wouldn’t remember the drunken brawls she got in super well, so seeing her handiwork after the fact was often a surprise - even to her. Instinctively, she used her healing powers to repair the damaged horn.

“There we go! Sorry about that – I can get a bit rowdy when I’m drunk. Hopefully no more asskicking will be necessary today!”

It was then that Jester sent the oni crashing towards her, and the two of them crashed onto the floor. Of all of Jester’s Epic Youtube Prank Moments, this one might’ve been the most epic.

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeek!”

She was blushing like mad at this point. Her face was practically a tomato – that’s right, she’s Tomato Helena, and it’s the funniest shit Jester has ever seen. When she got to her feet, she briefly thought of how she could get revenge on the little blue devil, but that subsided when Setsuna asked if she wanted to dance with her. After a moment of pondering, she answered in the affirmative.

“Hm… two big cute ladies tearing it up on the dance floor? How could I say no to that~?”

Kayné Ainsel—Zone Six, Industrial District, Egress Eternal

"Oho," was Kayne's only comment on the chaotic and rowdy happenings going on right in front of her. She wasn't drunk at the moment, but she could appreciate good humor for what it was and stay quiet so Jester's plans could continue uninterrupted. Still, she wondered if Jester had agreed to or refused her proposal. She hadn't exactly said anything concrete...agreement it was, then.

"Oh dear," were her next words upon seeing Everett's dejected state. She'd seen that look in many of her friends' eyes. She'd know it anywhere. But here, among friends, he had a right to know that he was cherished. "If you don't feel like eating right now, that's perfectly valid. You can always save your food for later, take it home for leftovers. And it's your decision as to whether you want to stay or leave, but I do want to tell you that I don't feel like you're dragging us down."

As Kayne was already preparing the takeout containers, she added, "You're a good fellow comrade of mine and that's all that matters. I don't care if you're feeling up, down, or sideways—I'll still be here during my next break should you want to come back here again. Having said that, well, you have a choice to make, don't you?" She smiled at him again, and it was still kind, but ultimately accepting of his choices.

She nodded at him, and looked at the door and the dance as if to remind him of what he could choose, and looked back at him. Her left hand twitched and spasmed, as it was wont to do due to her phantom pains, but Kayne still wished Everett happiness anyways, laying a warm and real hand on his shoulder. A small but meaningful gesture, from one survivor to another.

Moloch "Moko" Kothys—Zone One, Central Business District, Corner of Seventh & Ninth Street

"Ah, do excuse me," Moko said to Leo and Violet as he retreated back into his shop. "But please consider my offer. It's not like my shop is going to suddenly grow legs and leave, right?" He laughed nervously at his own joke, and stepped back into the warm atmosphere of his property.

He bowed hurriedly as he passed by Jengbish's table, and added, "Tea will be served in a moment," going over to the tea kettle and checking the temperature by putting a hand on it. Strangely enough, he was not burned by this, as his construct-body only registered sensations, not pain. His real hat-body was the only part of him that could feel wounds. "Not hot enough," he muttered, and then did another strange thing.

Putting both hands on the kettle, he muttered something under his breath and then both of his hands steamed, turning red-hot, heating up the kettle in almost no time before he pulled away and blew on his hands, dusting them off in order to lower their temperatures to an acceptable coolness once more. Then he poured Jengbish a steaming cup of freshly brewed tea, and placed a mutton sandwich—several, in fact, neatly stacked on top of one another—on his table. "Alright, I believe that is your usual," Moko declared. "And after last time I thought you might like some tartar sauce with your sandwiches, so I took the liberty of getting a bottle. Please try it and tell me what you think." Sure enough, there was a small bottle of tartar sauce in the little condiment caddy in front of Jengbish. It wasn't there before, obviously, but Moko liked to be thoughtful and attentive when dealing with his customers. It was good for business.

"Prushka, be careful with the gun, dear," he cautioned as he came over with some coffee for her and her father. "If you can't identify it, it would be better to give it to Kayne. She knows more about firearms than I do, but she's on break. If you want, I can give her a call later. Also, if you'd like to order anything else, please don't hesitate to ask."

Edited by JumpingFruit on Jan 20th 2021 at 9:40:05 AM

Setsuna

"Oh! Uh, okay! I guess." Setsuna wasn't sure why she even asked. Sure, she was drunk off her ass and desperate not to think about how she was so dumb and stupid, and Helena wasn't that bad looking or anything, but...

...no, that was totally it, wasn't it?

If there was one good thing about being so fucking drunk, it was being a lot more honest with herself.

"But ya better know what you're asking for, 'kay?" She seized the angel's hand in a burst of drunken confidence, spinning her with one arm towards the centre of the floor before leaping forward and catching her back with the other, propping her up and letting her down as she busted her moves. She was rough and wild, bobbing her head and swaying her hips and jiggling her chest, everything she'd been holding in for the last six months coming loose as she tore apart the dance floor like a savage.

Gods did she need this.

Edited by kkhohoho on Jan 16th 2021 at 4:41:13 AM

Zone Six - Egress

This, Amaterasu thought, was what she lived for. She could only smile as Setsuna found her feet and began to dance with Helena. All living things were her children, and what more could a mother hope for than to see her children in love?

Even the obvious illicit deal going on between the Egg Man and his apparent drug dealer couldn't bring down her mood this day, though she still kept an eye on them.

Taking another lap of sake, she turned to Everett and swished her tail, painting a circle around his wrist. In an instant, a ring of flowery vines appeared around his remaining arm, like a makeshift bracelet.

"It is as Kayne says. You worry too much, otoutosan." Amaterasu assured him. "We are all your friends. Though we may miss the worlds we left behind, we should not let that prevent us from making new worlds, here."

She rose from her cushion, plodding over to him to nuzzle her head against his hand. "Whenever you despair, look at these flowers, and remember that hope will always bloom again."

Edited by kagescorpionakki on Jan 16th 2021 at 5:04:37 AM

Zone Six; Industrial District

Their words wash over you. You don't lift your head. You don't even move. You might as well be a statue.

This… this is not how you expected this to go.

You figured that they would react with acceptance bordering on indifference. Maybe an "Alright, see you later," if that, before going back to their own conversations. Because honestly, you were already starting to feel like a third wheel here. You haven't been able to keep track of all the stuff these women have been talking about, but you can tell at least some of it is beyond you.

It might have been easier if they'd reacted that way. Then you could have just gotten up and left without any issue. Hell, that option's still on the table: Kayné made that very clear.

You want to go. You should go.

So why didn't you get up already? Why are you still sitting down?

Why are you listening?

You look up. At Kayné, with her hand on your shoulder and a kind, genuinely accepting smile. At Amaterasu, who nuzzles your hand, and the flowery bracelet that she put onto your arm. At Jester, who offers you a hand and a place on the dancefloor. At Helena and Setsuna, who are laughing and having a good time with one another.

You blink at that sight. Then you let out a short laugh. Well, that's one major difference between Helena and the angel she reminds you of, at least...

You think on everyone’s words. Kayné's stick out in particular, and you realize that she has a point. You are comrades. Everyone here, as far as you know, has done work for the Draughtsmen. All of you have risked your lives to help this city grow, to keep people safe, and you’ve fought alongside some of them yourself. If you can't trust them, who can you trust in this messed-up place?

So you sniff, make your choice, and force yourself to smile as you meet Jester's gaze.

"Alright. I’ll stay." You stand up and take a step forward, reaching out to take her hand with your own. "I should warn you, though: I've got two left feet."

Zone One, Corner Of Seventh and Ninth Street

"Indeed," Bondrewd confirmed with a smooth nod, "We often congregate here at Moko's cafe prior to our undertakings in the Incoherence. As for souvenirs, I will do my best to oblige. I know how restless one's spirit can become without something to stimulate the mind, after all. Although, I see you are preparing to go on your own adventure through the world of literature. I didn't realize you were one for that genre, though perhaps I underestimated the broadness of your tastes. I'm sure Prushka would love to compare notes with you on that front someday."

"...Pardon me for a moment, Johanna," he excused himself, seeing that Moko had returned to his duties in the interior of the cafe and left the younger Draughtsman with the typist. "Good morning, Violet," he greeted, approaching her table and reaching out to pat Leo's back as congratulations on a job well done, "I realize you likely have a long day of work ahead of you, but both I and Leonardo here would be honored if you would take time out of your schedule to join us for brunch."

Kothys'

"Ah, Maia! You got here early! Did you have to wait long?" Prushka's eyes sparkled as she hastened over to the table of the robotic woman who was her sister and took a seat. Of course, there was no way they could be related by blood, but she wasn't related by blood to Papa, either. As he would say, "A compassionate heart is what makes people a family. Blood just helps that. Family is what strangers meet and make together."

So happy was she to see Maia that she completely missed Leo and Moko rushing in to grab napkins and wet-wipes respectively, at least until the former of the two men dropped Sonic on the table. "Hi Leo! Bye Leo!" she giggled slightly at the suddenness of his departure. "Why, hello there, Sonic!" She attempted to begin stroking the top of the Speed Monkey's furry head.

Jengbish, who she considered her uncle - or perhaps grandfather, given his age - followed her in and took a seat, laying his recent find on the table with some pride in his voice. Well-earned pride, in her opinion! She had never seen a weapon in such a design before! "Oooo..." she cooed as she looked it over, "I've never seen a gun that was actually designed to fire under-handed before! That's what this is, right? How are you supposed to hold and brace it properly?"

Then Moko came in with the mutton and a cautionary note. "Oh, don't worry, Moko!" she assured, "It's Jengbish's gun, anyway, and we're not going to be firing it, least of all in here!"

Edited by darksidevoid on Jan 16th 2021 at 10:00:46 AM

Maia - Zone 1 coffee shop

Leo was only around long enough to get a wave from Maia as he rushed in, deposited his coffee and monkey on the table, and rushed out again. Smiling faintly, Maia simply reached over to gently pat the little creature on the back. "Hello, Sonic. You are good boy."

Heavy footfalls announced the approach of one of her senior colleagues - the most senior, perhaps.

"Master Jengbish." She gave him a Draughtsman's salute with her free hand, shuffled over to make room for Prushka on her side of the table, and leaned forward curiously as the huge warrior placed some sort of non-standard handgun on the table between them.

"I am also unfamiliar with this pattern" She said, coolly eager as she shifted her hand from Sonic to scoop the carbine up off the tabletop, turning it this way and that as she identified the controls, and giving Moko what was supposed to be a reassuring smile. She was still working on perfecting those.

"The weapons seems perfectly functional. Very maneuverable." She said after a few moments, gesturing to Prushka how she had intuited the gun should be held. "The under-slung configuration is an unusual design choice. It would be more difficult for people without targeting systems to aim."

Zone Six: Rum-Eyed Rufus’s

Jester barely had the frame of mind to hear Helena’s face erupting like a thrown hand grenade as the angel shrieked with abject embarrassment behind her, much too taken by the ever-fluffy puppy working a minor miracle in front of her, forcing Jester to confront the truth that had been staring the tiefling in the face the entire time.

Oh my gosh, this doggo is Amatarasu… ‘s cleric! A cleric, just like me!

“Ooo, ooo, ooo, do me next, do me!” Jester said excitedly to her new best puppy-cleric friend in the whole-wide-world, kneeling down next to the dog’s cushion and bending over slightly to display her scalp to signal that she wanted a nice crown of flowers the way that Everett had just been gifted a floral bracelet. Assuming that this most-generous boon was granted to her, Jester would then get to her feet, furrowing her brow in concentration as she attempted to work the crown of flowers down and around her horns, while also absent-mindedly responding to Kayne’s impromptu pep-talk. “Fake Doctor Lady is right, we would dance with you even if you were all the way upside-down! It would be hard, but we would figure it out!”

With the crown finally and firmly in place, Jester would then reach out to take Everett’s hand, her smile sending her eyes wrinkling in enthusiastic cheer as she led him out onto the dancefloor. She quickly attempted to take both the lead and the traditionally male role in the dance, attempted to place her one hand on the small of his lower back while entangling the other with his one good hand, holding their combined grasp out to the side of them to guide their twisting, turning, and flowing path like the bow of a wave-stricken ship. Jester’s feet found the floor easily, falling into patterns drilled into her since she was a little girl, when she had been taught the skills of high-society with the expectation that she would need them to navigate that world someday. Instead, she was using them here, to slum it up with her friends, and she couldn’t have been happier; weaving around where Helena and Setsuna were dancing up a storm, the laughs that were gleefully escaping from Jester’s mouth had long moved past the momentary mischief at her friend’s good-natured discomfort, and into the comfortable pleasure of the moment.

She drew back from Everett, reaching their combined grasp up over his head to spin him in place like a top, before leaning them both back, and letting the tension of their grasp dip both of their torsos backwards. At the moment when Jester dipped to her lowest point, she would point at any covered lanterns or low-burning torches lining the walls, and mutter a word that registered not in the ear, but in the fabric of the world around them—causing the flames to grow brighter, flaring up harmlessly for a long, dynamic second, before Jester pulled both her and Everett back into their combined stance and the flames sputtered back down. Jester was a mess of laughter at this point, and it was only a matter of time before she did it once more, her cackles raising to a shrieking whoop as the lights cast all of their shadows in taut, sharp definition. The third time, though, she didn’t make a sound—too busy concentrating on tossing her floral wreath behind her at the moment her and Everett’s wrists went taut, aiming for Helena’s head but just as likely to wring it around Setsuna’s horn.

“My mother taught me to dance like that.” Jester said at last, once the last of her laughter had simmered down for the moment, and she’d settled in along with Everett in a traditional, low-effort two-step. “She was the most beautiful and talented dancer in alllllll of Nicodranus. Maybe even the entire Menagerie Coast! Oh, that’s a whole bunch of really pretty cities from where I come from, lined up all along the ocean.” Jester spared a glance towards Helena and Sestuna dancing, Kayne and the puppo on the sidelines, and even her own duplicate, rocking and weaving gently in place. “Maybe you’ll all get to see it, someday.”

Edited by Uncandescent on Jan 16th 2021 at 12:13:53 PM

Zone Four - Konohana Park

"Well, there is no need to worry about what you could have done. The story was more than enough." Neraida smiled. She actually did mean that - just holding a friendly conversation with someone from another world was a borderline new experience for her. She was so engaged by it, in fact, that it took a moment for her to register that Elliot was talking again.

Neraida turned slightly to get a better view of this new person, examining his current condition with abstract interest. She stayed silent, though - even though it stung to admit, Elliot was more proficient at starting conversations than she was. This morning had contained one stroke of luck in meeting new people, after all - why interrupt a second?

Zone Four, Konohana Park

The new person took notice of the others nearby, and walked to them. He offered a handshake to Elliot. "Ah, nice to meet you!" He said with a smile. "I'm Mit-eum. And you are..?"