Masquerade Part 2: Army of Darkness

[Oersted]

"Yeah, I tend to be more responsive when I'm tired so that's probably why," Lanos said, sounding amused. "So when do you want to potentially be the first human to ever ride on a harpy's back? Personally, I'd suggest waiting until tomorrow, but I'll let you decide."

[riariadne]

The tables turned quickly on Valha as Ingverd pointed out an immediate flaw in her outfit choice. "N-no, I don't!" she responded in a squeaky tone, embarrassed by both the possibility and the fact that she'd never considered it. "It's a nice skirt, anyway! I'd wear shorts or somethin' under if it's really that big of an issue, but I don't think I know anyone who would do that except maybe you sometimes. Ahhh, why'd you have to bring that up?!" She immediately forgot about his discomfort due to her own.

[Xinnidy]

"Um... I think I have a story about the stuff I use, if you'd like..." Maja replied, a little attentive to Makin and Kendeall's conversation despite not opening her eyes or leaving her resting position. "Well, you see... I was taught by my parents how to use staves. They're the ones that taught me a lot of what I know... well, mostly about Him. My mother and father knew a bit of light and healing magic themselves, so they tried to teach me what they could... in their own pace, so I only really learned how to use staves, they never saw me having a use for light magic, so my dad didn't want me learning it." She paused for a moment, probably to let her mind wander a bit, she didn't want to force herself, but her brows lowered expressing that she did. "Lances... that was me being stubborn. When I got older, I decided I wanted to leave one day, and they had to understand I needed to, see? So... I started sneaking on the guard's barracks late at night... they'd leave their equipment there most of the time. Those in patrol overnight never returned there until the morning anyways... so, I just trained against the sandbags and that. Well... the sandbags getting more holes or just tearing apart overnight were obvious signs someone was sneaking in, but I never realized that." She giggled. "Kinda silly, isn't it? Well... one night I got caught. The captain was hiding there that day. Took cover crawled under a weapon rack the whole night. You bet I took a scare when this big man was standing behind me in the training grounds... I think my shouting actually got the guy more scared than I was, though... Well, he told me to drop my weapon and explain, so... I told him everything, nothing to hide after all. He seemed more tired than anything, but just told me to not come late at night anymore and talk to my parents about this." Maja had a small frown at that point. "I kind of didn't do that... Instead I came in on the afternoon. He wasn't very happy to see me, he sent me off... and the next day... and so on for like... eight days? He just gave up by then, told me I could come back late at night. But said he wouldn't do a thing if I injured myself." For a moment, the girl's cheeks puffed, but she quickly let out and in a breath, and continued normally. "My parents found out one day, sure. But I told them I was getting good, and wanted to keep going. They... didn't let me, anyways. At night, they locked me in my room so I would just sleep. I... kinda left by jumping through the window anyways. When they saw I didn't stop, they gave up and let me. So... yeah." Maja let out a deep breath, and smiled a bit, feeling a bit silly inside. "I just... learned how to use them by being stubborn and annoying to everybody. Eheheh..."

[algae]

Wait. What just happened? "If that's how you are when you're tired, I'd hate to see you get excited... Not to mention offering to let someone ride you like that. Pretty brave of you."

[Nanami Touko]

Accusations

"Wh-- me!? Come now, why would I be worried about that if I wanted to do something so vulgar! If I was into such actions I would've kept quiet! Honestly..." He felt a bit hurt by her accusation, wondering if she thought he'd really do something so low. She probably thinks I would've. Ugh... I wonder what it would take to quell such thoughts. "A-Anyway, just grab something to wear under it if you're so gung hoe on wearing the skirt... It does look nice, so I...think you should." He coughed slightly, making sure he didn't stutter any more than necessary. It was hard to keep composure after that little debacle.

Responses

"Woooow, that's gotta suck! Guess you should nap more often. Being quiet isn't the best, but being an open book just 'cause you're tired is going to get you into sooo much trouble." Vriska wondered if her tongue had ever worked her into big trouble, and thinking about it, it hadn't. At least not yet. It probably will; I'm still young, and if Ertel was any indication, entirely naive... "Later. It's too late for anything like that. Would suck if you flew into a tree because of the dark outside."

A Tall Tale

Makin turned her tired gaze to Maja, surprised she was even talking through her tiredness. "Alright, go ahead. Tell us what you've brought up from the depths of your mind." And what it was, was quite a lengthy tale. Makin ended up getting a bit enthralled by it towards the end, wondering if there was any more to it that Maja wasn't mentioning through either embarrassment or fear... But with how much she'd said, Makin doubted that. "I'm impressed, Maja. Who knew you were diligent even before you got into mercenary work? I can safely say there's no better replacement for Charlie. Not that I had many doubts in the first place." She patted the young girl's hair, feeling like a mother once again, which was slightly annoying, but in this situation it felt like it fit. "See, Kendeall? Even the tired girl can get out a good story. There's gotta be something in your head."

[riariadne]

"W-well, you thought of it as a concern when it didn't even occur to me, so there's somethin' up there," she retorted, blushing furiously at this point. Valha quickly grabbed a pair of black shorts to go beneath the skirt she'd picked out. "I'll wear these then, okay?"

[MRDRHAWK]

Kendeall shrugged again. "Sorry boss; I'm boring." He replied as he drank once more. Maybe the alcohol would help him think of something interesting, but he doubted that highly.

[Xinnidy]

"Ehehe... thanks." Maja replied, a little proud she made her boss happy, guess she was really more diligent than she herself realized! With a small smile, she returned to rest against the couch, not opening her eyes this whole time. "I'm not all that good with a lance yet, but I'll get somewhere if I try, eh?"

[Oersted]

"I don't really get excited, so rest assured you probably won't see that. Eh, if I can fight cutthroats and murders giving someone a ride on my back doesn't seem all that brave. Foolhardy probably, but not brave."

"My sleep intake is fine, it's just that today was especially tiring as I'm sure you're aware of. Honestly, I prefer being tired like this. As terrible as it sounds, not being able to focus on one subject for too long is actually better for me. Makes worrying about the small things difficult." Of course it didn't occur to Lanos that what'd he had just said was a perfect example of what Vriska was telling him about. "Well, I was planning on just flying up and down but I guess that'd be kinda boring huh?"

[Nanami Touko]

Flustered

"Of course I would, I wouldn't want anyone else to see. I'm just trying to save you the embarrassment, even if it's embarrassing me." He was beginning to get slightly flustered, himself, placing a hand on his red face. He looked through his fingers at the shorts she'd chosen, nodding at them. "They seem fine. Match your hair. Neutral shades, etcetera." It was clear he'd flustered himself.

Boring

"Ahhhh, what a let down, Ken," Makin said with a small groan. She looked at the girl again, someone she was quite proud with at the moment. "Yes. You could probably even have Kadin teach you something. Despite being weak, as he's, y'know, dead, he probably knows a thing or two about stance and technique. Maybe you should ask him."

And as no one else was saying something, she decided it was her turn. "Alright, fine. I grew up in the desert in a rather small group of Nagas. My mother, father, my aunt, and another family of three. We didn't talk much, we were all rather serious back then, but we watched our backs because we were all that we had." She cleared her throat and stared at the ceiling, then the mug. "But that's boring, isn't it? Well, when I was twelve, our little group was attacked by an ant lion. Nasty creature, hides under the sand waiting for something to pass over it to attack. It got the father of the other family, and went after my mother." She began to curl her tail. "Would you be surprised that I knew how to fight at twelve? All I had was a puny shortsword, and I had to square off against this ridiculous creature. Well, I did," she said, turning the end of her tail over to reveal a rather long scar, "and it wasn't pleased. My father knew how to use anima magic, so it didn't last long, and my mother was proud that I'd managed to protect her. All in all, I would say a pretty successful battle. Save for the other family's father, but we were used to that world being harsh."

She paused for a moment, wondering if her tale had been a bit too dark. "Sorry. I don't exactly have a lot of happy memories of the desert. It was mostly too hot, too cold, and entirely dangerous. I've no idea if my parents are still alive, I left only two years after that incident. I can honestly say that this side of the world has softened me up considerably. I'm pretty grateful."

Take Flight

"Today? Tiring? It didn't seem like you all fought more than mercenaries normally would. I guess I didn't do too much, so I'm not that out of it. A bit disappointed, I was hoping to get back at them more than I did... Pretty glad about what I did to Ertel, though, heheh. I totally saved Valha." Vriska nodded, folding her arms over her chest. She was obviously super proud of what she'd done.

[Oersted]

Lanos shook his head and sighed, he was getting really tired now; though he doubted he'd be able to fall asleep for some reason. "Well, I don't know about you, but being on the front lines and getting cut up while swinging and tearing a sword at and through enemies, that is at the same time too heavy for you, would probably make anyone tired. That's what I did so I have a right to be tired, I'd like think at least." Lanos frowned when Vriska expressed disappointment at getting back at the bandits as much as she wanted; though, he refrained from saying anything. Revenge was a touchy subject for him. "A-Anyway, did she even thank you for that? I mean I know Ingverd's the one who got cut up and I injured the bastard, but you were the one who created the opening in the first place."

[riariadne]

"Okay, well I get it! Ahh, whatever..." Valha sighed, looking back at him. "Okay, look, let's just pretend we never had that conversation. I don't think either of us liked it much and I don't want to be angry or whatever. We have what we came for, so let's just go, alright? Sorry for getting mad." She extended her hand towards him.

[Nanami Touko]

Nothing

"Nope! I'm this mercenary group's silent hero!" she said with a mocking tone, placing a hand over her heart and making a rather over the top sad expression. That ended quickly. "So just get stronger so swinging the sword around isn't as much of a pain. Not a big deal, right? Pushups, do some, lift some weights. I dunno." Physical strength was a foreign area for Vriska, so she had little to not advice for the bird man.

Sorry

"Yes, let's... Sorry. Just... Yeah." Still slightly embarrassed, he took her claw and brought her along to the cashier, clothes in hand. This was the moment he'd been dreading more than that entire conversation. He rang the small bell at the counter, just once, hoping for Olga's brief attention. He even put on a different voice for her. "Ah, yes, excuse me, madame. I would like to purchase these clothes for my friend, if you so have the time." He hoped that she would just take their gold, since she seemed so intent on her own, and they could leave without worry.

"Hello, Ingverd," came a sour voice from the counter, the man immediately recoiling from where he'd been standing.

"Devil woman! Eyes in the top of your head! How did you know?"

"Because no one else would bring a monster into my shop. Only you, you sly dog. What happened to the others from five years ago, they didn't pan out? And you seemed so lovey dovey together, really, it's a shame. And there was Alexandria before that, Celine, Rachel..." As she listed off names, Ingverd's jaw dropped further and further, until he became so flustered that he dropped his pouch of gold into Valha's hands and walked off into a corner to collect himself. Olga laughed. "Hyahahaha! What an easy mark, always so focused on the task at hand. Hello, dear," she then said to Valha.

"I wouldn't worry about him flaking. I'm simply playing with him, really. He was always rather committed to relationships, even if they didn't last very long. Hmmmhmhmhm..."

[Xinnidy]

"Oh..." Maja paid attention to Makin's story, though her eyes didn't open. "The desert sounds... really harsh. But you like it here now, yeah?"

[riariadne]

Valha walked over to the counter with Ingverd, not entirely calmed down after the small incident. The conversation between Ingverd and the shopkeeper did nothing to help the matter. All of these others? She flinched a bit when he gave her his gold unexpectedly and left, snapping her out of her daze, and looking to the shopkeeper when she was addressed. "Oh, hi. We aren't really in a relationship... we're friends 'n work together 'n all that, but I just sorta, um, ruined some other stuff, so he's bailin' me pout. So Ingverd's brought others like me here before? A lot?" Valha mentally noted that she too had mentioned Ingverd having good commitment.

[scorri]

Kadin shook his head, slowly coming out of what could only be described as a memory-induced stupor. Lowering his hands from his head, he stared blankly at them for a few second before looking up. "Did... did someone say my name? Something about training?"

[Oersted]

Lanos didn't have a response for Vriska's short little sad act so he did his best to ignore it. "Well, I suppose that would work. Problem is I'm too tired to even try pushups right now and I don't really want to carry weights around wherever I go. Besides, giving you a ride tomorrow should be enough exercise," the last sentence was mumbled more than said, perhaps because Lanos hadn't meant to say it out loud.

[Nanami Touko]

New Life

"It wasn't the best, but it hardened me up, and taught me how to fight really early. I'm glad it did that much. But after living over here, despite the hardships, I don't think I could readjust. It's just too...polarizing, the difference between the desert and here."

Surprisingly, Kadin spoke up. "Oh, sorry. That was me. I was just thinking that you could spar with Maja... Or at least show her how to improve her lance technique. Even if you can't remember everything, you seem to remember how to swing one around, ethereal or not. Might be a good lesson for her... Another time, of course. I'm just waiting for her to pass out."

Exercise

Vriska furrowed her brow. "Are you calling me fat?" she asked, bluntly.

Cursed

"Not in a relationship? Well, maybe you'll work out then, you'd be the first one he's brought here that he wasn't dating." Olga chuckled to herself and stuffed her coins, magnifying glass, and other trinkets away. She began looking over the clothes that had been brought, weighing out a price in her head. "That man must be cursed, truly, truly. I'd feel sorry for him if he wasn't such a go getter. Always got right back up on his feet when something didn't work out, always said there were more fish in the sea. I thought he was crazy." She opened one eye wide at Valha as she said that, chuckling a little.

"Let's see... Well, Alexandria, she was an elf, but she was just using him. Dried up all of his gold at the poor age of twenty and left with her lover only a week later. I don't think it phased him too much, it hadn't been as bad as Celine. She was human, just your average girl, but she up and disappeared one day. Didn't take anything, didn't leave a note. Simply vanished. Even worse, before that was Rachel, a naga, but she was killed in a rather unfortunate accident at the mill. I don't think he'll ever talk about that one, to be sure." She finished looking over the clothes while she prattled on, keeping her tone hush hush so that Ingverd wouldn't overhear and try to stop her. "It's like I said, definitely cursed. Any woman that ends up with him doesn't end off well, if they're both committed. I'd watch yourself. Though, you're the first bird he's ever brought back to Ward. Might be a sign. But what do I know? Judging from my shop, I might be crazy as well! Heeeeheehee... Oh!" She quickly changed subjects, "that'll be five hundred gold. Should have enough in that pouch he gave you."

[scorri]

"Oh... Yes, we'd briefly discussed that at some point. I think. I don't... Maybe." He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "Things are getting fuzzy again. I should go... be by myself for a bit. I'd say sleep but... well..." His mouth jerked into a sarcastic half grin. "That's assuming there's nothing more you need from me boss."

[Xinnidy]

Maja felt she heard a familiar voice, but her mind was starting to grow sleepy, used to the headache. She couldn't really discern the conversation by then. With how exhausted she was, Maja fell asleep there and then, her sleeping body slowly leaning over Makin as the conversation went.

[Nanami Touko]

Sleeping

"Well, I don't think I need anymo--" she said, stopping as she felt Maja brushing up against her tail. "Maja, could you... Oh, she's out. Hold on." She slowed the girl's descent with the end of her tail, letting her rest calmly instead of fall. "Here, take her up to her room. If you can. You've been talking to her for a while and I think I remember reading about how ghosts work. You should be able to. She probably shouldn't sleep down here, anyway." Makin took a moment to think to herself, adorable, but decided that thinking like that wasn't the best idea, lest she actually start acting like a mother.

[scorri]

"Yes ma'am." Walking over to Maja, he picked the girl up, and started carrying her upstairs. As he reached the top of the stairs, he paused and mentally kicked himself. What if her door was shut... Thankfully the door to her room was open, so he was able to carefully maneuver inside. Once inside, he carefully used her legs to shut the door behind him. Laying her down on her bed, he sighed. "Good night. I hope... I hope I was not wrong to involve you in the mess that is me." With that, he headed back to his room.

[riariadne]

Valha glanced aside at Ingverd nervously as the shopkeeper told her story. "I-I see." Cursed? But curses aren't real, are they? The more she spoke, the more anxious Valha felt about her situation, especially with the stories about other girls. This is the only person I've really talked about Ingverd with except himself 'n the boss... She was caught a bit off-guard by the sudden change in topic. "Oh, here." She handed over the money required for her purchase. "He's had it rough, huh? I wouldn't really have expected that out of him. Ingverd's hard to read..."

[charlie_]

Angus had headed to his room as soon as they got back to the inn, feeling sort of ill and not really in the mood to talk. He thought he still had some kind of medicine somewhere in his bag, but after rummaging around for far too long he finally gave up and figured he must have finished it off at some point before. He sighed and repacked his things. Trying to sleep it off felt tempting, but it was still sort of early. He figured he would head downstairs for a little while and pass the time.

He closed the door to his room just to see Kadin... carrying Maja? Huh. He didn't know ghosts could do that, honestly. He watched for a little while as Kadin left Maja in her room, and made his way into his own, not noticing Angus or just simply ignoring him. Hopefully it was the former. He was kind of concerned and curious as to what happened to her, so he decided to knock on Kadin's door and ask. Talking to a ghost had to be at least kind of interesting, anyway.

[scorri]

Kadin had flopped down on the bed staring up at the ceiling, letting his mind wander. The best description he had for his current state of mind was fuzzy. He couldn't really concentrate on anything, so just not concentrating on nothing was easier. Then there came a knock. Without sitting up, he called out, "Come in. I'd open the door for you, but."