• PM To Join • [Sweetsong] Skullgull, I choose you!

[Winston]

15th of Saun 722

Skullgull, I choose you!

Sitting (very literally) in the middle of the settlement of Sweetsong, just a short distance from the main congregation area of the camp, there was a large chest. Its lid was shut and its many, many legs were tucked in close. There was a very odd smell coming from it. It was something like salty fish, but was quite potent.

Above the chest, suspended from a metal stake in the ground, hung a sign that read "Work Shop - Ring bell or come in for service. Free cake for all customers". Below this, hung a little bell, with a pull-cord. The cord went up to the bell and then back down into the depths of the chest.

Sitting outside the chest was Winston, who was working on some kind of intricate cage, perhaps a trap.

The cage was fashioned of a wooden frame, with a mesh over it and Winston was in the process of trying to create a triggering mechanism to set it off.

As Vega approached, he looked up and his face lit up with joy. "Vega!" He literally leapt into the air and the chest beside him shuffled in anticipation. It didn't have a tail, but something about the way it was fidgeting told a story of bemused excitement, like it knew excitement was happening, but was a little unclear why. It lid opened slightly, exposing two rows of enormous teeth.

"Me finally gat me workshap 'ere." He said, gesturing toward the sign above the jittering chest. "Oh! Dis es Chest. Chest, dis es Vega." *whispers* ~She has a dragon~ The chest shrank a little at this news. "Dem is very friendly." He added, reassuringly.

"Me wus just trying to put togeda a Skullgull trap, while business picked up, but per'aps yuh 'ave somting me can do for da settlement? Me 'ave some cake inside ef yah like?"

[Vega]

15th Saun, 722

Sweetsong was an interesting and rather unusual place, at the best of times. The large fairy rings, the pumpkin-patch and the waterfall were all unusual and beautiful. Then, there was the oasis which she had grown, and the very unusual tree which Vega called Erik. But to-trial, there was something new and even more unusual than she was used to.

First, there was a... box of some kind. Though, as she looked closer she saw that it was a treasure chest sort of thing and Vega had to admit that it might be the single most peculiar thing she'd ever seen. But then, next to it there was a bouncing ferret. "WInstaaaaan!", she said, calling him by the name she thought he had. She'd heard it, after all, from him. "How are you? You a'right?" And then, he introduced her to the box.

Now, it was obvious that the box had legs. It was also obvious that it was moving. But Vega found that a little odd, as chest-behaviours went. Still, Winston had taken the time to introduce them and so Vega grinned at the chest and nodded. "Wotcha," she said. "It's righ' nice to meet you. I think you're the first chest I've ever spoken to. How're you doin'?"

She looked at what Winstaan was crafting and she frowned slightly. "That's not a bad trap. I've got a few round here. How're you doin' to tempt the Skullgull in there?" Vega wondered. "An' how're you goin' to trigger the trap shut? Skullgulls are ligh' so it'll be important to not jus' trigger it with weight."

As to whether he could help in Sweetsong? Vega considered it. "Well, you know, we always are needin' someone who can cook well. An' then there's huntin' and since you's a handy-ferret, well there's always stuff what needs repairin' or buildin'. But you're very welcome here. If you plan on stoppin' a while, we can make you a camp - a space what's yours. I've got some small tent material, so we're good. If you wanna, that is."

She didn't want to be pushy but, equally, she was very pleased to see him. But then, something occurred to her.

"Why are you tryin' to trap a Skullgull any'ow?" It seemed like a bit of an incongruous thing to be doing. But of course, there was another question. "An' can I help?"

[Winston]

A tea room, of course ...

He enjoyed watching Vega and Chest perform introductions, his eyes darting between them as they did. When Vega mentioned that Chest was the first chest she'd ever spoken to, Chest held itself high (for a chest) and pranced in a little circle, as if showing itself off. It then plopped back down beside Vega, nudging her leg, suggestively. If she looked, Winston surreptitiously made a little scratching motion with his hand.

When she asked about the bait, he nodded. "Oh, me 'ave created some bait, sarry about dat smell." He turned to Chest. "Cun me 'ave de pot af bait, please, chest? Careful mind." Chest closed its lid and wriggled for a moment before opening again to reveal the teeth and tongue all gone. They were replaced by a single, lidded cooking pot within a more conventional chest interior. It was the size of a soup bowl a human might use and was almost certainly the source of the fishy smell. Winston jumped up onto the ledge and then down into the chest to open the pot. "Ets nat de most appitisin' far us. But me tink et will be irresistible tuh de gulls." He lifted the lid and sure enough, the thick fishy broth within looked sticky and smelt of a fish market. He placed the lid back where it belonged and hopped back out of the chest, whereupon the chest closed and returned to its previously toothy demeanour.

Winston looked at his trap thoughtfully when Vega offered her advice. "Dat's true, me was mabey gonna trigger et by tying da bait tuh the trap? Like dis?" He showed Vega where he planned to attach a string to a rudimentary prop that would hold open the trap. He looked up at Vega hopefully, clearly looking for her appraisal, his little eyes twinkling with admiration. If she looked, the idea was clearly laid out, but he was not a great engineer, though was drawing on some experience as a hunter. "Da bigga problem me 'ave at da moment is ow to hide da trap so da bird does nat notice et, widout compromising de trigga. Apparently dem is very skittish."

Winston cocked his head to one side when she mentioned tent material, as if he was confused for a moment before suddenly "Oooooooooh. Tanks very much, but me 'ave a 'ome en 'ere." He patted Chest affectionately, whom settled into the patch of ground it had currently claimed. Winston jumped suddenly, as if he had forgotten something important. "OH! Where es me manna's. Yuh wud like tuh come in? Ave some tea?"

If she consented, the chest would open to reveal a deep rectangular well with a light at the bottom of it. Winston jumped up and onto the ledge of the Chest. "Tankyou Chest. Please come in. Me cun show yuh wat me workshop 'as." There was a glint of mischief in his eyes as he hopped off the lip of the chest and dropped into the well. The chest had not one failed to inspire wonder in those that entered it for the first time and the little ferret seemed to be quite happy to vicariously enjoy this fact.

He waved from inside as he appeared to be standing on the wall of the well, as if gravity was totally different within.

However she entered the chest, she would find herself standing in a stone hallway with two doors along the left and one on the right with an opening at the far end where the light of a forge flickered. The smell of salty fish was, it had to be said, pungent.

Winston waved her into the room of the far right, which appeared to be a simply furnished tearoom, with a table and a few chairs. There was a serving (human scaled) hatch that lead to a well-equipped kitchen on the left and a little archway at ground level. "Dis es me waitin’ room. It appeared only recently when Mr-Woe-Sir wanted somewhere to drink tea."

At this point, Winston remembered something else. and turned to Vega with a curious expression. "Wat kinda 'service' does a mark like a cross on a chaps face mean?" Woe had dodged the topic very persistently and it had been eating away at Winston for ages.

Set out on the table were a number of plates with large wooden bowls turned upside down ontop of them to protect their contents.

"Cookin' yuh say? Oh me LOVE cookin'. Yuh shud try some af dese." He lifted a bowl to reveal some little, red, hard sweets. "Dem called Rub'oney-draps un Sally 'says dem is gud. 'elp yuhself tuh any af et. Sarry about the bowls, but the fish smell get's to da fud oddawise." He nodded enthusiastically. If she took one, she would find, should she like such things, it to be quite delicious. "Me would LOVE tuh 'elp wid da cookin' ef dat wud 'elp out."

Winston hopped back down off the table and went towards the kitchen. "Yuh want tea. Or yuh want sometink else." In the most friendly way possible, the two statements were issued as if one of the two simply had to be true.

If she explored any of the other bowls while he was in the kitchen (they were certainly laid out as if to be served), there would be bread and cake, all baked with an expert hand and all in ample, but bight-sized portions.

He continued to speak with Vega as the sound of drinks preparation emanated from the hatch. "OH! De Skull-gull? Oh MY! ..." His head popped up at the hatch for a moment. "Yuh wud nat believe et, but a mun called Tek asked me tuh catch one. 'im's got dis tiny little dragonling, an a hat wid a monocle, an I’m come outta now’ere, like “poof ‘ello’ me Tek and me ‘ere to ‘elp” … “ah! Where yuh come fram?!”!" He acted out the little scene enthusiastically, putting on what he might seem to think Tek sounded like as he played Tek’s part. He went back to drinks preparation.

Winston gave a little 'heft' sound as he lifted something in the kitchen. "'e said 'e wud 'elp me out if me gat 'im a gul, so dat's wat me doin'."

It went silent for a moment, before he appeared at the bottom archway, pushing a little ferret-sized hand-wagon. It had a pot of tea (or whatever it was she expressed a preference for) and two cups with some sugar on it. He grinned brightly. "Oh! Yuh wud 'elp me? Just like dat? Oh dat wud be dat best. Me nat tried to catch somtink like a bird ALIVE beffa, me 'ave tuh say."

"Wud yuh like sam sugar?

[Vega]

15th Saun, 722

Vega had never met an animated, obviously very proud of itself, box before and so when it started to rub itself against her, she glanced at Winston in some surprise. However, just like the dog-like behaviour it was showing, Winston's hand demonstrated what the chest wanted. Sitting on her heels, Vega reached out and began to pet the chest in the manner that Zyqat (her dog) adored. "You know, this is a righ' pleasure. Thanks for comin'," she said to the chest. "An' for bringin' Winstaan too."

It had to be said, she was rather entranced by the chest and, the more she saw of it, the more true that was. She watched as Winston asked for his bait and the chest performed that action. "It's righ' handy that chest innit?" she said, making sure to increase scritches and fusses in a way which the chest seemed to like.

She wrinkled her nose, but wasn't truly concerned by the smell. "I do a lot of fishin', an' huntin'," she said. "Whiffy don't bother me." She sniffed it and nodded. "That smells great - for bait. Yeah, that'd work." And then, he showed her the trap and Vega looked at it and considered what he said. "Yeah, they are. I mean, what you've got here is perfectly a'right, but I think we could make it a bit better," she said. She was very much of the 'say it how I see it' school of thought, and that had always seemed acceptable to Winston when she'd met him before. "Since they're skittish, I'd make it bigger, an' lookin' like somethin' they're surrounded by. So, if you're goin' to place it in a tree, make it look like a branch, with branches around it, that sort of thing. An', don't be afraid to go big. Small traps are harder to hide, sometimes, if they stick out like sore thumbs you know? "

When she offered Winston a tent, he said that the chest was his and Vega figured that, though he was small, that would still be a squash and a squeeze, but then something very peculiar happened. He invited her in. Vega looked at him in some surprise and then, he jumped into the chest and invited her to do the same. With a grin, Vega stood and stepped into the chest - and somehow, she was... in it. She'd been fully expecting to look like a total plonker, with her feet in a chest, but no, that wasn't how it worked. Beaming with delight, Vega looked at Winston and said it just how she saw it. "That's jus' shiverin' my timbers fantastic, that is." Looking around, she said to no one in particular. "Thanks, Chest. You were amazin' before, but now you're jus' a ... well an amazin' chest." She looked around with wide eyes and she turned to Winston with a grin. "This is amazin'. Where did you meet this Chest?"

She looked around with interest and then she followed him into the waiting room. "You know Woe? Yeah, I know him," she said, honestly. Winston asked about a cross on Woe's face. Vega shrugged slightly. "I dunno what that is. It isn't a mark, like an Immortal mark I mean." What it might mean, Vega didn't exactly know, but she thought that she probably knew more about it than Winston did. "It's a brand, I think. In some parts o' the world - not here on Scalvoris, not no more - they have a system of slavery, where people own people. To show that a person is a slave, so owned by someone else, they heat up metal in a particular shape an' brand the slave. I've always thought it might be one o' those things, on Woe, but I don't know an' I didn't ask."

Cadouri were relatively new to this world, Vega knew, and so the concept of slavery might be something Winston found difficult. "There used to be slavery on Scalvoris," she said. "But someone called Faith put a stop to it. It's a horrible thing, so it is. An' there's still probably some people who try an' trade in slaves even here on Scalvoris. That blokie what Elisabeth's married - Balthazar? He got arrested for tryin' to buy slaves, apparently." She shrugged slightly. "So they tell me, he was tryin' to do a good thing, but I'm a bit more black an' white than that. You don't shake the devil's hand, you know." Philosophy, Vega-style.

She watched as Winston lifted the bowls and then she tried one of the sweets. "Schnizzle my snoot, that's well lovely!" She grinned at him. "Tea would be great. Thanks, Winston. I'm gonna poke around in here, an' have a look at these," and, true enough she did. There were noises of delight and the sounds of a woman enjoying a bite-sized piece of cake. "You're definitely hired, Winstaaan, if you wanna. It'd be great to have your help."

Why he was doing this, though, was delightful to Vega. "I met him!" she said, nodding "I'm makin' him a cabinet an' a horn, an' he popped in in his flyin' ship, an' that little thing on his shoulder were adorable!" She nodded enthusiastically. "He seems well nice, I reckon. No, thanks, no sugar, I'm sweet enough already." Looking around, she nodded. "Winstaan, this chest is amazin', an' I love it. I want you to know though, you're both really welcome in Sweetsong. I'd love for you to become part of the community. We're goin' to be cookin' round the main campfire an' eatin' together there. Would you be ok with that? When we've eaten, we sing an' tell stories, an' I play the fiddle. It's the community I'm tryin' to build an' folks seem to like it." She grinned at him. "You good with that?"

She hoped he would be. Because it seemed to her that he'd fit right in.

[Winston]

Not the FACE!

The Chest seemed to respond to Vega's thanks as it settled and leaned into her attention slightly, settling as the scratching took hold.

When Vega referred to Chest as "that chest" there was the briefest moment of change in Chest's manner. Vega might only have noticed it because she happened to

have her hand on it at the time

, scratching it, but Chest seemed to stiffen up just for a moment, before sinking back into the petting, if perhaps with a little resistance. If it objected to the reference, it was short-lived. "Oh, yuh, mun. Chest 'as been a very good friend since we met. 'im look afta all our tings much betta den me eva cud."

Winston's dementor suggested that he was not only accepting of everything Vega suggested, but delighted by her input. "Af cars, yuh es so right. An ef et es biga, den there is less chance af the bird being hurt when et es triggered." He added, his tone suggesting that this was of some import to the tiny ferret.

Vega was clearly very adept at hunting, something that did not in the least bit surprise him. In fact, if he ever came across something the Vega was not god-like at, this would surprise him more as the little chap had not just a small amount of hero-worship for the woman. "Me neva put a trap inna tree befar." That fact might suddenly explain why his current trap was clearly designed as a ground trap. "Wud yuh 'elp me wid da design?"

As Vega thanked Chest from within its own belly, a door hinge, somewhere off in the distance, gave a low satisfied creek. Winston hopped quickly from foot to foot and let out a little giggle. "Me know, right?" And as she followed him down the short hallway, he explained, with delight, marvel, wonder, lots of arm movements and admiration in his voice. He ambled his was through the story of having been lost in the depths of Saiore's Dream, opening his locket, meeting Horatio and Millicent and being offered the Chest in thanks for gifting to Aeva a dedication of his invention and a view into his life.

Whenever he spoke of his own contributions in the story, it was always with a dismissive and humble tone that suggested that he was quite sure he'd not done anything special. The stars of the story were Saiore, Horatio and Millicent if how much he gushed over her cooking was anything to go by. "So since den, me an' Chest 'ave been friends an' 'im 'elp me out all dat time. Me really 'ave no idea 'ow 'e does et dough. Every now an' den, 'im just adds a new room, just cus me need et an' 'e ALWAYS knows where me es." He chuckled. "Me shar one trial, me will wake up an' get lost on me way out."

Vega: It's a brand, I think.
Winston: Intrigued surprise.

Vega: they have a system of slavery
Winston: Interested curiosity.

Vega: where people own people
Winston: Confused dismay. His eyes were like pitiful orbs of emotion.

Vega: they heat up metal in a particular shape an' brand the slave
Winston: Abject horror.

Vega: but I don't know an' I didn't ask.
Winston: Placed his face in his hands. "Me did. Tree TIMES. Nuh wonda 'e didn't want tuh talk about et." His voice was sad and full of regret.

"Dem branded 'im ..." He looked up at Vega again, but now his face was full of anger. "... an de FACE! De FACE! Why de FACE?!" He stomped his little foot. "Me tell yuh why de face. It de face so deir oppression could neva be forgotten by 'im." For the first time since his time in Idalos, Winston let out a little growl. He was not a big bear and so scary it might not have been, but as a Hunter, Vega would likely not mistake its meaning. There was a slaming sound from the hallway. "Don't worry Chest. We will start et."

As Vega went on to explain about the status of slavery in Scalvoris, Winston listened, though was clearly distracted by thoughts of Woe. "Faith? She es building a 'ospital. She sounds ..." He clearly seemed to consider the right word. "... champion?" Winston became fixed with a look of determination, but for the time being moved forward with their day.

The only thing that seemed to genuinely penetrate his obvious consternation was the sound of Vega's delight at his cooking. This made him smile, it always did. "Please, take a bag far later." He said, putting together a little bag of the sweets she seemed to have enjoyed.

As Vega spoke of Teq, Winston smiled. "Oh yuh. 'ims little dragonling? Me liked 'im. 'im just come outta nowhere." He chuckled a weak but genuine chuckle.

Vega asked him if he would be happy around the campfire and he brightened up. "Oh, yuh, mun. Me wud love dat. Me can cook over anyting hot." This statement was possibly the closest the ferret had ever gotten to boasting, but it was delivered as an assurance he could help. "Me hope me singing don't put people af deir fud." He jested.

...

There was,, on Winston's part, an awkward pause as he took a sip of the tea.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: That was, ummm... Yeah.
Winston: Me owe Woe an apology.
Curiosity: Really? I mean, how were we supposed to know?
Winston: Me shud have just nat asked. Me such a dufus.
Curiosity: Nah man, it's on his FACE. How can we NOT ask?
Winston: Et es so wrong. Tuh take someone's independence en such an irrevocable way. Me wud have anyone dat did dat to another person receive each mark upon demselves.
Curiosity: [Well ... That's ONE way to go, but Woe is doing well and free now.
Winston: Me wish dere wus someting me cud do far 'im.
Curiosity: Who says there isn't?
Winston: Me can't make 'im not have been a slave.
Curiosity: No, but perhaps you could make sure he's had the choice to remove the scare?
Winston: Yus! We cun look far someting far dat!

...

"Vega?" This was delivered as an unspoken request as much as a prompt. "Me tink dare es someting me need tuh do befar me catch dis skullgul. Sarry." He placed his teacup down, still half full. "Me need tuh find someting dat can remove a scar." He said plainly, as if this was a resolved truth. "Me 'ave 'eard talk af a rain, just befar we Cadouri arrived in Idalos dat could remove scars. Per'aps me cud find some af dis. Ar dere must be someting out dere." He looked up at Vega again with a resolute expression. "Me gonna give tuh Mr Woe Sir someting tuh free 'im af dis despicable imposition an 'is personal freedom, but me don't really know where tuh start lookin'."

[Vega]

15th Saun, 722

When she felt Chest tense, Vega glanced at it and she thought about what she had said. She smiled a broad smile when Winston explained what a good friend he was and she nodded. "Sometimes," she said genuinely, "In fact, most of the time, I'm a great big gob on a pair of legs," she didn't sound upset about this truth. Just aware of it. "An' I'm not always the most clever. I didn't mean no offence there, Chest. I meant 'that Chest' like I'd say 'that Cadouri' or 'that Ithecal'. Just so as you know, an' I'm right sorry if I offended you." She kept up the fussing with her hands, happily applying scritches. "I promise you, I've got nothin' but pleasure for havin' met you, an' I hope that's ok."

It was true - she did not ever want to give offence, not at all. When Winston asked her if she'd help with his trap, she beamed. "You bet your furry fingers that I will, I'd be real happy to," she said with genuine delight. "I enjoy huntin', an' I'm pleased that you don't wanna be hurtin' the animal. That's important to me, that is." It was. She refused to hunt where hunting wasn't needed and she was running Sweetsong in that manner.

And then, Vega went into a new world. Or so it seemed. She'd seen and done many a thing, but this was quite something else. So, she followed Winston down and looked around with absolute fascination. Listening to his story, she hung on every word and she asked, quietly and seriously. "How would you feel if I turned that into a song or storybook, Winstaaan?" She asked him genuinely. "I wouldn't do it without your permission, o'course, but if you'd be happy to, I think it's a tale worth tellin'." She considered it and came up with a title, the first thing she thought of. "The best chest, or somethin' like that, would be the name."

But next came a conversation which Vega saw was uncomfortable and difficult for Winston and she looked at the little cadouri with emotion swirling in her eyes - he might notice that colours swirled in them too, changing a shifting from green to blue to brown to orange. His outrage at the thought of slavery was good, as far as Vega was concerned. "Far as I know," she said, "slaves are often branded on their faces, so everyone can see. It's so everyone knows, always." She shook her head. "It's not right, Winstaan, I agree completely. But yeah - champion of an Immortal, I believe she is. Of a few, in fact. I'm Xiur's Champion - you can tell by the amount of marks someone has. Like this, see," Vega pulled the top of her dress down slightly, just enough to reveal what looked like the constellation of a dragon on her chest. "When Xiur first marked me, that were a single magic glowin' freckle. But now, it's that. This bit," she said, pointing to the heart which beat in the middle of the dragon, "Is Daia's mark. The more they bless you, the more marked you are, an' the more marks you get. Weird, innit?"

They talked and Vega ate some of the delicious treats and they agreed a few things but there was something that Winston was working through, Vega could see it in his expression and his body language. . He spoke what it was and she nodded her head. "Course you need to do that," she said with a serious expression on her face. "As for where to start lookin', well, I'd say there's a few options." She thought about it some more. "There's healin' marks. Moseke. U'frek. Those are two what spring immediately to mind, like. I could do it, but it would mean that he had to forget every memory he has an' get a whole new start in life. Probably a bit extreme, really." She gave a slight shrug. "Also, there's ... oh, hang on. There's lovalus water. The oasis what I made over there, it can heal. I know there's plants an' stuff too. Maybe we could try an' do a bit of alchemy to make somethin' what combines those things, the ones we can get our paws on, anyhow?" She considered further. "An' there's a shop in town, the 'Spirit of Adventure', it sells all sort of stuff an' the bloke there is right friendly." Arlo always said he was only friendly to her but Vega didn't buy that.

"We can ask him? It's a trot into town, an' that'll give us a place to start?" She gave a grin then. "We could go on Martha, if you wanted. You an' Chest, both."

[Winston]

A shopping trip

Chest's usual sulky nature was won over by the attention offered as Vega excused herself so unreservedly and Chest quickly returned to floating, contentedly on its legs as she scratched. Winston simply smiled, allowing them to bond as they saw fit, in their own time. "Me an Chest still 'ave a lat tuh learn about one another."

The Cadouri beamed with delight when she agreed to help. Her philosophy on hunting married well with his own.

When Vega offered to make a song he chuckled. "Mind? Af cars nat. As lang as yuh share et wid me and per'aps Heratio and Milicent once et's done. Yuh such a gud musician, et would be a treat tuh hear a stary af Chest en a sang." He tapped the nearest wall. "Watcha tink Chest?" He paused a moment before smiling. "Dem like et." He announced with delight.

As they spoke of Faith, Winston nodded. He was clearly distracted but trying not to be rude. He looked at Vega's mark, distracted from his distraction for a moment by his own curiosity. "Oh wow! To be marked cun be a great 'onar." Not all Immortals were 'good', so his choice of words was carefully made.

He shrugged thoughtfully when she suggested it was weird. "Per'aps. Me wonda ef et is a matta of possession far de immortals ar someting about us mortals dat cannat take de powa widdout de physical shoin'." He looked up at her again, suddenly remembering that his musing out aloud was with a witness. He smiled.

Winston's eyes lit up as Vega started listing options and then turned to something resembling the face of a person smelling a bad cheese as she explained that he'd have to have a new life. He shook his head absent-mindedly as he listened with intent. "Me don't know much about 'ealin', but dem suggestshuns seem very 'elpful.'" He said with a smile. At the moment, the spirit in this little ferret was in transit and could not quite decide where to settle. "Slavery as a carncept 'as left a bad taste en me mouth an' me don't really know wat tuh do wid dat, since Faith 'as already gatten rid arf et in Scalvaris." He picked up a cake. "Soh far now, dis will solve dat problem, while me pack far a trip tuh de shaps." He took a bight of cake as he decided that determination was going to be the main emotion for the day. As they both readied to leave, with each step, he settled into it and his demeanour became more certain and less lost.

"Yuh shar Chest cun come up OK?" He asked as they mounted Martha. His uncertainty was reflected in Chest's hesitance, but with some persuasion, they all made their way to town. It didn't take long for a trip on the back of a dragon to cheer him up. He let himself enjoy the trip a little, with a "Weeee." here and a "Oh-wassat!" there.

Winston let Vega lead the way to the shop, hopping up onto her shoulder should she not mind, to avoid getting trampled in the busy street. When they got there though, it turned out they were given a wider birth than he was used to as people parted ways for Chest.

The Shop

was open and welcoming, with its great many racks of equipment, weapons, supplies and tents. A little bell rang as they entered the shop and a voice called out as Friell welcomed them in. "Helloooo... Vega! Always a pleasure and I see you have a..." He looked first at the Chest, which was rather awkwardly trying to nudge its way inside and then at Winston, whom he would not fail to see as he was waving happily. "...aunterage." He smiled, placing his ledger down. "Please, come in, there must be something I can help you with today."

[Vega]

15th Saun, 722

He didn't mind her making stories and songs from his tale, which pleased Vega greatly. The more they talked and met, the more Vega was realising that Winston and she shared many philosophies. "Some of them, yeah," she said, thoughtfully, in response to his consideration of Immortal marks. They thought a lot alike, she had to admit. "But only some of them, cos others are complete asshats.", just maybe they didn't quite speak the same way. As for what it was, why the physical mark itself happened? "I dunno. I'm real proud of these, an' the others I have. Gives me the warm fuzzies. I guess it's like, the military have uniforms, don't they? Lets people know, also. No clue.".

The whole slavery thing, though, that obviously really got to him. Vega had met a few cadouri now and they'd all been upfront about their emotions . Still, Vega was who she was and when Winston said that he didn't know what to do with the knowledge about slavery, she considered it. "Well, I reckon you should celebrate it," she said, determinedly. "Because nothin's changed out there," she waved in a vaguely "out there" direction. "The only thing what's changed is that you know more now." It wasn't an empty philosophy to her, it was how she lived her life.

"Ignorance is bliss, it's true, an' you were happier not knowin', that's for tootin' sure." There was no doubt in Vega's mind that they would both be happier if they didn't know things like this. "But now, you've learned two things. Both that there is slavery in the world an' that it can be stopped." Vega was fundamentally who she was, always. Thus, there was always a bottom line, and it was the same one. "So there's hope. Which means you can make a difference. Maybe not to all of it, but to some of it. An' that was all Faith did, really, make a difference to some of it. So, lets go make a difference to Woe, eh?"

Vega wasn't really someone who did deep thinking, in many ways. She was more prone to working things out by virtue of getting on and doing things. Action and feeling like she was moving towards something helped her. She didn't think that sitting around and worrying about Woe's scar, slavery, or any of the ills of the world were going to be any help - but she very much approved of "so, lets get on and do something about it" as an attitude. Therefore, when Winston agreed that popping to see Friell in the Spirit of Adventure was a good idea, Vega grinned.

She was very happy to travel there with Winston, and with Chest. She helped both of them up to on top of Martha and she made absolutely sure that they were both entirely safe and secure and not liable to fall off . She was also pleased with how much enjoyment the pair of them got from flying and she made sure to do a few circles of Sweetwine before they left.

When they got there, however, with Martha circling above the town, they made their way to the shop and there, indeed, was Friell. "Well, Vega, it's a pleasure to see you again! How are you?" Friell greeted her and smiled at Winston, too. "Well, aren't you just small and furry?" he said with a cheery expression. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Friell, and I welcome you to the Spirit of Adventure!".

Vega smiled and spoke to him in her usual rather blunt manner. "Wotcha, Friell," she said. "We're lookin' for somethin' what might heal scars, you heard of anythin'?" Friell looked at the two of them and nodded, thoughtfully. "I have!" he declared. "I have here a very rare and unusual piece, a trinket from a hidden city, so they say. A place which has been cut off from civilisation for hundreds of arcs and, as such, they have developed all sorts of wonders."

"Yeah, yeah, you're uppin' the price. What is it, an' how much?" Vega spoke good naturedly and Friell winked at her. "My love, you see right through me. Yes, this is called Ether Rain, apparently and was developed by an alchemist in a lost underground city. It will do the trick, but it's far from cheap." Vega looked at Winston and she smiled. "Whatcha think, Winstaaan?" Vega asked. She already knew that, if needs be she'd be buying it herself and sending it on Winston's behalf but the small ferret needed to do this himself, Vega thought. That was the only way he was going to feel better about it.

So, it was up to Winston in this moment. Friell looked at the two of them and held out the small, unassuming vial of liquid.

[Winston]

Shopping triiiiip!

As she spoke the word 'asshats' he laughed. "Dere es an undeniable truth tuh dat statement, dat's far shar." He agreed, wholeheartedly.

He nodded as she expressed her opinion on the marks. He certainly would not choose to remove or hide his and so it seemed like they agreed on the matter.

He considered her words on what he should do with the knowledge and nodded vaguely. "Yuh know, me tink yuh might be right dere. Knowing someting gives yuh someting." He perked up a alittle. "An' wat me 'ave been given es an oppartunity tuh do someting nice."

When they arrived, Vega seemed to know the shop owner well. "Nat just fury. Me also make gud cakes." He said and Chest produced a cake for Friell to have. Not wishing to cause a potential customer any offence, he took a cake. "Talented and fury, a good combination."

Then Friell began spinning his line. "A hidden city?" He repeated, his voice filled with wonder. It was a fair guarantee that had he came here alone (and should he ever), Friell would make very short work of this ferret's savings. "OOooooooo, an alchemist?" Friell had him hooked, but Vega's question snapped him back to the task at hand. "Oh, yuh! Me wud love tuh know where that city es, shame et es last... But yes!" He beamed and hopped down,

asking Chest for the funds

. Chest opened up to reveal the funds inside. Winston handed over the coin and with the look of a man calculating a great deal of profit to be made, Friell gladly accepted the exchange. "Well, that certainly is an interesting antiquity." He observed, as he handed over the vial. "I don't suppose it's up for sale?"

Winston smiled apologetically. "Oh no, me cud nat passably sell Chest. Dem es me friend, nat me belanging." His reply was delivered as an explanation and not a defence and Friell shrugged politely. "Of course not, my mistake. It is a shame though... After all, for that kind of thing, I could be persuaded to part with some maps rumoured to lead to the vial's city of origin." Winston's eyes gleamed. "Oh! You have maps?! Tuh da city? UUUuhhhhh... I shud nat." He looked up at Vega and then at the vial. "Me 'ave someting impartant tuh attend tuh, right naw. Bot me will com back some trial." He said and Friell smiled a very broad and charming grin. "Of course. You are always welcome at the Spirit of Adventure."

As they left, Winston regarded Vega for a moment. He knew that what he was doing was so much more about what Winston needed than what Woe did, but still... "Tank's Vega. Dis means a lat tuh me." He said, glancing at the vial. "As gifts go, et es a selfish gesture, bot knowing et will be done will bring meh a lat af 'appyness."

Rewards Claimed

Here!

[Pig Boy]

All Players

Rewards

• Language: Scalveen

Winston

Feedback

Winston is such a bundle of cute and goodness. All the same, I never expected to see him show outrage and anger, given his usual sunny disposition. But it seems even the cadouri has a breaking point. Clearly Winston can be gotten to, and have his world view shaken up.

I enjoyed this little shopping excursion and learning session with Vega. It was all well handled, and Sweetsong will be happy to have the cadouri craftsman as a neighbor. A talented smith will be useful, and one that's learning to build traps.

I'm impressed with the way you play your character, even in his anger, he only thinks of a gift that can help alleviate the pain of whatever evil he perceives. It's really sweet.

Good writing!

Rewards

• XP: 15

Knowledges

• Cooking: Bird bait
• Hunting: Bird traps
• Cooking: Concentrating Odours
• Engineering: Triggers
• Cooking: Contamination: Smells
• Cooking: Appetisers
• Hunting: Hidden Traps
• Discipline: Now is not the time
• Non-skill: Helping make friends
• Tactics: Bartering: Mind on the prize

Vega

Feedback

What can we say about Vega that hasn't already been said? She certainly doesn't seem like one to wallow in helplessness over this or that, or to whimper uselessly when she learns of some injustice. Very action oriented and solution oriented.

I think she found a good one in Winston, and it's easy to see how they get along, both being solutions focused with Winston being a bit more pacifist while Vega is willing to do anything necessary to make things right. Very different characters, but both very good-aligned, if you get my meaning.

The idea to go to Friell's shop was a good one, and the shopping excursion was an interesting diversion from the main thrust of the thread.

Anyway, great writing!

Rewards

• XP: 15

Knowledges

• Engineering: Making something fit in with it's environment, to avoid it sticking out
• Hunting: Sometimes, a big trap is easier to hide than a small one
• Psychology: Analysing how someone works through a dilemma internally
• Psychology: Cadouri psychology suggests that they wear their hearts on their sleeves
• Mount: Making sure that passengers are safe before flight

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!