Dog dashed away from the two of you and into the small space between two buildings, sunlight peaked through the other side.

"Aaaah! Look, you had me all distracted-like and now he's stuck! Do something!" Carna grabbed a pig-tail in each hand and pulled them across each-other in a panic.

You thought to tell her it wasn't your fault, but whether or not you were right, reasoning that way never worked with Carna. She paced back and forth in front of the opening, tugging at her hair.

Dog would certainly come out sooner or later, but if you waited too long Carna would start mashing her fist against your head and that was never fun. At that time you were still a bit smaller than her, you could probably squeeze in and grab Dog, but then again he might just decide to run out the other way.

>Run around the buildings and coax him out the other side
>Push between the space to catch Dog

>>31330325
>Run around the buildings and coax him out the other side

>>31330325
>>Run around the buildings and coax him out the other side

"Wait right here." You said as you quickly dashed to the end of the street, Carna protested but didn't follow you.

After two right turns, you found the other side of the crevice where Dog had slipped in through. Kneeling forward, you gestured for him to come over, and hesitantly he listens. You picked him up underneath his little arms and he gave you a small lick on the cheek.

It took a little bit of trouble when you returned to Carna to coerce Dog back into her arms, but thankfully she kept him carried the way home instead of stepping on his tail again. You'll need to talk to an adult about her habit later.

Under that evening's sun, the two of you walked back, Carna playfully scolded Dog's behaviour the entire way.

And so the dream ends.

>>31330325
>Run around the buildings and coax him out the other side

Op can we buy a dog? I would love to have a Husky even if theyre associated with Rasc, Fuck that noise lets get a dog

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>484 of the Raschan Calendar

You unwrap the last of the bandages taken from your run-in with the demon. Normally your injuries should've taken a fair bit longer to heal, but after two weeks of rest to let the recovery start, Masoch came into your room and weaved away the most of the wounds.

Although you hadn't been able to take a direct part in the weapons lecture, Rein made sure to give you and Anlak a quick run-through every day after class. More often than not, Yu'yen or Leona would accompany her there. You'd certainly have to do some catching up, but thankfully your teacher Kran didn't hand out any additional field exercises that you wouldn't be able to make up for.

"Apparently it's important we know the history of martial arts and weapon-make in addition to how we swing our blades, I think it's a load of pegasi shit." Yu'yen said one time when Rein dropped off some books you'd need to keep up with. The jab she gave him after that comment looked pretty painful.

With the bandages undone, you slipped on your jacket and made way back to your class that was half-way over. It seemed Anlak still had some resting to do, but he didn't seem to need much help with the weapons.

>CONT

Ten years ago you lost her, Carna; who never watched her step. Now ten years later, you're prepared to cut through any opposition to find her.

When you step into your classroom, Yu'yan waves to you with a mace in hand. Some inches too far, he topples over carried by it's weight.

"Ah, good to go already? We're looking at Daktori weapons today. It's a shame Anlak couldn't join us." Your weapons teacher Kran hefted a massive sword over her shoulder with ease, the weapon was more brick than it was blade. When she turned to face you unfortunately, the sword knocked over some rows of books on the shelves behind her. She sighed deeply, "While I clean these up, could you have one of the others show you what we did?"

You nod and make way over to...

>The ever-reliable Rein and the bookish Leona
>The talented and aloof Sheryl
>Your good friend always full of surprises, Yu'yan

>>31331125
>>The ever-reliable Rein and the bookish Leona

>>31331125
>The ever-reliable Rein and the bookish Leona
Rein should be best able to show us what they went over.

>>31331125
>The ever-reliable Rein and the bookish Leona

Rein had already been helping you keep up through-out your recovery and she was doing a fine job of it, no point wasting time hoping that Yu'yan and Sheryl could do better.

When you approached the carrot-haired Belgran sisters, Leona waved at you with a smile. Rein seemed a little bit distracted as she peeked around the sides of a curious weapon with an ivory colour and a spoon-like shape.

"What's that for?" You ask her.

"Remember when we studied the Daktori awhile back?" Leona answered for her sister.

You think back on Masoch's classes, the godless Daktori people had their entire culture built around demonic contracting and undead labour. The few fields found in their desert-lands were tilled by skeletons, and their vast empire similarly built by the hands of the risen deceased.

"Since they're always dealing with the undead, the flat end is supposed to be used to crush bone and the part that curves in is hooked to rip flesh." Leona explains.

"Gaaah! I don't understand it, the teacher told us to figure out on our own how to hold this thing but I can't find a good handle anywhere!" Rein places the weapon aside and leans back in her seat.

"You'll need to do better than that Rein," Kran yelled from her side of the room, picking up books with her one hand. At this point her demon Graps had come up and started helping her with the work, "When you're out in the fields, you'll need to be ready to wield potatoes with deadly precision."

>CONT

Leona and Rein caught you up on what they'd went through today. The Daktori built most of their weapons with the intent of crushing their opposition with disposable weapons. They'd weave their skeletons together and carve their fore-arms into weapons, then when that vanguard was defeated they'd pick up the remains and wield the pieces themselves. Cheap, disposable. There wasn't a huge amount more to cover, much of the lecture was review on things you already knew that just explained how their arms connected to their history.

"So, did you enjoy your stay in the infirmary?" Rein was getting tired of the talk on lessons now that she'd run you through the essentials.

"Fun. I talked to Anlak a lot, he responded a lot less."

"Yeah, I guess he's like that isn't he." Rein nodded to herself.

Leona leaned forward and peered up at you, "Bet you missed us being cooped in there all day."

Truth be told, you'd seen all your friends a fair amount. With a few exceptions at the week's end, Rein came by every day. Leona kept bringing in new reading material, and Yu'yan would come by bored stiff to complain about whatever had him bothered that day. The only classmate you didn't see much of as Sheryl, it'd be two weeks since she came by for some brief minutes. You answer Leona...

>"I saw you plenty, if I missed anyone it'd be Sheryl over there."
>"Yeah, I missed you a lot Leona."
>"It's fine, I saw Rein everyday."
>"I missed Yu'yan most."
>"Anlak kept me company."
>Write-in

>>31331704
>Write-in

"And i bet you missed me hanging out with you."

>>31331869
Second.

>>31331704
>"Yeah, I missed you a lot Leona."

"I did just fine, I bet you missed me though." You poked the tip of Leona's nose, a move stolen from Carna. From the tip of your finger, red spreads across to Leona's cheeks. She hops back in surprise waving her hands in front of her face, her back bumping into Rein, who them slips forward and pushes the club she set aside onto the ground.

Unfortunately for the three of you, the room you were in was built like a small auditorium with the desks raised, the club fell down a few empty feet and shattered against the floor. Daktori weapons are known for their deadliness, crushing armour and then shattering and leaving their shards in the wound, this property did not help it survive the fall.

"AH SHOOT! THAT WAS MY ONLY ONE OF THAT!" Kran yells from across the room, dropping the books in her hand and running over to pick at the shards. Graps silently cleaned up her mess. Sheryl took a look at the clock and then silently exited the room while the teacher panicked, and Yu'yan made his way down to join the rest of you in watching the Kran's reaction.

"A-ah... sorry, was that... expensive?" Rein peeks over the desk as Kran whimpers about the broken piece.

"N-no, it wasn't expensive... but AAAGH! DAKTORI IS SUCH A LONG WAY!" Kran tosses bone shards into the air.

"Ah, I'll help you replace it don't wor- please don't cry Mrs Kran." Rein tries to calm your emotional teacher down while the rest of you look on disillusioned.

>CONT

Graps dismissed the class for the day, it seems that everyone else had gotten used to him over the last week. You haven't had the chance yet to ask about the demon's relationship with Kran, and were still a bit confused about how much authority he had as adjacent-to-teacher but you weren't about to complain about being let out.

On the way back to the dorms, Rein hung her head and openly regretted about knocking the piece over. Leona insisted to her that it wasn't her fault, but while Rein could be fairly hard on you and Yu'yan, she was hardest on herself and lightest on Leona.

"Is it really that hard to find something to replace it? Why don't we just go kill a bear and carve out it's bones?" Yu'yan suggests.

"If you want to fight a bear." Rein punched him in the side, without any of her usual energy, "I guess I'll have to look around town, maybe I'll get lucky." She followed her statement up with a drawn out sigh.

"How about you check the market? I'll see if the library has anything on it." Leona suggests.

"Laaadies, and Rein," Yu'yan wiggles his index finger, "If you're serious about finding something foreign, leave it up to me. I doubt you'll do well reading books and visiting the market. Belgran women should keep to the battlefields and let the men keep shop."

You ignore Yu'yan's odd case of sexism, but Rein seems to have taken it as a challenge, "If you think you're so good, then how about this, we'll split up and whoever finds it first buys everyone dinner."

>CONT

When you return to the dorms, your little group has a quick meal served up by your the elusive chef. Rein and Yu'yan discuss the terms of the little contest, between your group (It seems you're being counted) the person who brings in the Daktori mace will have their meals for the week paid for by the losers. The contest will run until everyone should be tucking in for bed, any resources can be used but stealing it from each other is "not cool." Simple enough.

You're not really sure if you'd like to participate, but you'd prefer not to have to drop coins for meals. Your pockets have oddly consistently stayed a consistent weight the last month between an allowance from The Seekers and your small spendings and you'd like to make sure they only get heavier.

Perhaps if you helped someone, you could get out of paying if they won. You wouldn't be saving any money this way but you wouldn't lose out.

Then again, it might not be hard to opt out entirely and spend your night doing something more productive. You've still got more to ask Silvest about for example.

>Team up with Leona
>Team up with Rein
>Team up with Yu'yan
>Search your own way
>Duck out of the contest

>>31332481
Boy I really fucked that up, should read "whoever doesn't find it buys everyone dinner."

>>31332671
>Team up with Leona

>>31332671
>Duck out of the contest

Rein I say.... or if we deadlock leona

>>31332671
>Team up with Yu'yan
lets bro it up

>>31332671
>Team up with Leona

Any lurkers wanna tie-break? Otherwise we'll go with the sickgirl's deadlock vote. Will give it another couple minutes.

>>31332671
Leona seems the way to go, if need a tiebreak

>>31332671
>Team up with Leona
WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong.jpg

It doesn't look like Leona is too excited for things either, she just awkwardly smiles when Rein and Yu'yan exchange jabs.

At the end of dinner, Rein and Yu'yan dash out to get a fast start on their searches. You look over to Leona who gathers the empty plates and brings them over to the table, catching her as she leaves the room you make your proposition, "Hey, how about we work together on this one? If you win, just don't make me chip into those meals alright?"

Leona doesn't take any time to answer, "Sure, sounds great." She smiles sweetly and leads to the door.

Now the question is, where do you start your search? Leona thought it'd be a good idea to start with libraries earlier, with the object in question being cultural weaponry, The Archives might have some notes on them but who knows how current those are. There should be a directory in town... or some convenient place that always has what you need. Then again, you aren't committed to searching out books.

>Go to The Archives
>Find a library in town
>Visit Nitt
>Write-In Always assume this is an option in all choices even if it's not written.

>>31333367
Nitt has never let us down.

>>31333367
>Visit Nitt

>>31333367
>Write-In

Ask Silvest for help, then visit Nitt

>>31333367
>>31333502
I second this

"I think I know where we can start, but let's ask one of the teacher's first."

"Masoch?"

"Not who I was thinking of." You lead Leona back to The Archives.

Keeping Leona from getting distracted by the books all over the place is a small struggle, that Rein can do it all the time is a little wonder in itself but the promise to show her something more interesting keeps her attention to you. You pass through the front halls, into the main library and pass through the door once sealed, Leona spends some moments examining the door for its secrets. When you arrive at the second door to the left of the hall behind the library, you pull out your little fish-bone key and stick it in, opening your way to Silvest's room.

"Hey hey! Knock why don't you?" Silvest peeks his head from behind one of his many bookshelves upon hearing you enter, he steps out with a few books balanced on his paws, thankfully he's wearing pants this time.

"Oh? Why do you have the key to Mr Silvest's room?" Leona's head tilts some inches one way in curiosity.

"The cat's got my tongue on this one." You respond as you pull out a chair for yourself, and a chair for Leona. Another habit hammered into you by Carna.

"And he should peel it off! This is the second date you've taken back to my place and you've really got my hairs standing up!" Silvest plops his books down on the table in front of you and hisses.

>CONT

"Hm..." Leona squints at you with a little smirk on her face, but you make sure to get down to business.

"We're looking for Daktori arms." You tell Silvest.

"Humans? Skeletons? Or weapons? Oh who am I kidding, they're all the same thing with those Daktori." Silvest pulls a chair out with his tail then hops onto it, he needs to stand straight up to keep his head a decent level over the table top.

"So do you know anything?"

"On weapons? That's not exactly my area of expertise, you should try Ms Breasts, she's teaching you about this stuff ain't she?"

"We can't exactly ask her right now." You remember Silvest's nickname for Kran in case you need blackmail for later.

"Well, Masoch knows just about everything. I bet he's at the bar right now. The one in the centre of town, no idea why he goes there so often though."

You nod to Silvest and turn to Leona, who seems to have engrossed herself in a book she'd stolen off the table, 'Silent Weaves for Quiet Nights'.

"I'll let you borrow that book if the two of you get out sooner rather than later, I've got some reports to write up and then I need to get in some meow-time."

You end up leading Leona out by a hand, her book flapping about in the other; you'd prefer not to be caught up in Silvest's meow-time.

First off, you need to visit Nitt. You can decide whether or not it's worth seeing Masoch later.

>CONT

It's a fair ways before you reach Nitt's from The Archives. You're well into the afternoon and the town is quiet, your walk through town feels more pleasant than usual. Leona doesn't say anything on the way there, with her it's always too little or too much.

While you pass through the alleyway, a squatting drunkard whistles in your direction. Leona leans into your side away from him and you shoot him a quick glare to quiet him down. Other than that not-so-subtle reaction, you notice that you've gotten a few more looks from the women around town than usual.

Finally you arrive at Nitt's shop, the sign today reads 'The Little Book Shop On Daktori Weaponry'. Leona's eyes widen a bit at the sign, when she catches you noticing this she glances off to the side.

The two of you enter Nitt's, you see him fighting off his book companion Witt who seems to be biting at his nose, but when Nitt's eyes turn to you the both of them stop instantly.

"Whoa-hooo, lookit him Witt! You ought to go find him that book on Sevens Positions because he's gonner need it tonight!"

You have no idea what Nitt is talking about.

"Why I'm just jealous, look at you showing off. I wish I had hands to hold with!" Witt flaps his pages as he flies around you.

It's then that it finally hits you, you haven't let go of Leona's hand since you grabbed it back in Silvest's room.

>Let go quickly and cut straight to business
>Let go quickly and explain yourself to Nitt
>Let go quickly and apologize to Leona

>>31334251
>Write-In
Pretend you didn't notice and ask about the weapon-thing.

>>31334251
>you haven't let go of Leona's hand since you grabbed it back in Silvest's room.

L-lewd

>>31334407
Love it, seconded

>Write-In

"Good evening to you too Nitt, you wouldnt happen to know anything about Dakotori weapons?"

>>31334407
>>31334448
You guys are bastards. I was embarrassed just writing what I just did.

We'll give it another few minutes to see if any passing anons will save me from continuing this, and if not, then we shall head into oblivious together.

>>31334251
>Let go quickly and cut straight to business

>>31334407
oh boy here we go

>>31334506
If you wanted us not to go for it, you should'be made it an option, but super-shitty so we would choose something else.

>>31334251
>Let go quickly and cut straight to business

>>31334506
{Sensible Chuckle}
Okay I'll cut you a break..... for now
changing my vote here>>31334448

To>>31334560

Oh man, I was hoping this would develop into another bird seed incident.

>>31334676
Sonn...anon....soon
no tears......only bird seeds

When you were young, it was pretty much a given that you and Carna would be holding hands any time they weren't occupied by something else. It wasn't any romantic thing, your mother had asked her once to keep a hold on you so that you didn't wander off lost and sooner or later it just became natural. It seems that your body has remembered it better than your mind has.

Quickly breaking your hand off from Leona's, you cut straight to business, "Nitt, we're looking for Daktori weapons. You know of anything like that?"

"Daktori eeeeeh, Witt, help out our gentleman friend and his lady would you?"

You make a mental note never to show your face here again. Witt flaps over to a pile of books, takes a short pause in the air and throws himself into it. The pile shakes about, tossing books onto the already buried floor; Witt comes floating back out with a smaller book clamped between his covers and floats back over to Witt, loosening his grip and dropping it on the counter... of books.

Witt holds up the title for you to see, 'Bonemail, Bonemaces, and Bonemeal: A Primer on Daktori'.

"Actually, we need to find a place that sells weapons." You tell Nitt.

"...well why on Ridae's ears would you come to a bookstore?" Witt answers.

"I figured you could help with the sign and all."

"The sign is all advertisement kiddo, weaved like! We told you this last time!" Witt flaps around the in circles.

It doesn't seem like Nitt has any leads here. Time to try somewhere else.

>CONT

Leona the entire time managed to keep herself from digging into the piles of books. When you turn to tell her that you're leaving, she's just shyly peering around the store and fidgets with the borrowed book in her hand. You're careful not to go for the hands this time and just tap her lightly on the shoulder, she turns to face you swiftly and folds the book out in a little pyramid over her nose and lips. It takes her a moment to realize that business here is finished.

Not much time has passed yet, you've still some options of places to search. While you try to count them up in your head, Leona whispers softly, "I wonder how Rein and Yu'yen are doing..."

You're a little bit curious yourself. You have no idea what Yu'yen is off to but Rein should still be prowling around the markets.

>Find a directory
>Find Masoch at the pub
>Catch up with Rein in the markets

>>31334941
>Find Masoch at the pub
Even though he's a drunk, he must be competent.

>>31334941
>Write-In
Ask Nitt if he knows of any place where you can find a Daktori shop in town, if that doesnt work.
>>Find Masoch at the pub

>>31335018
Seconded also mentally prepare ourselves for the eventual verbal abuse of drunks

You quickly yell to Nitt from the door one last time to confirm that he can't help you.

"Unfortunately while the sign always tells you what you want, ol' Nitt here can't always give you what you need. Abloobloobloo." Nitt dramatically sobs. Witt 'flaps' him on the back a few times.

With that, you decide to go to the bar to find Masoch. With any luck, your teacher hadn't been there so long now that he was incomprehensible. You tell Leona about your intentions and turn to make ways there, but she quickly grabs you by the sleeve.

Both sisters were pretty tall, but the way Leona stood leaned slightly forward put her head a little bit below your neck, she peered up at you still blushing from the events earlier that you've done your best not to bring up, "I um... I've never been to a bar before."

You aren't exactly a drinker, but the bar culture was a big one in Ridaela and you'd often enough have to stop by one to pick up your benefactor, or just for running errands with the myriad places that ran one in addition to whatever normal service they did.

"It's fine, I'll keep an eye on you."

With that, Leona nods to you and follows behind you with her fingertips on the cuff of your sleeve.

>CONT

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>>31335189

Ridaela had everything from stands on the street that served spirits from a corked barrel, to rooms that looked like they belonged in a palace where a small cup could cost you a fortune. Daktori theme bars with scantily clad dancers and cheap liqueurs to Lunese legacy spots where you'd drink cocktails out of plates. Your benefactor divided them into two sorts though, places where you drink to live, and places where you drink to die.

You never fully understood what he meant, but the bar sitting in the square despite it's welcoming location struck you as the latter. The atmosphere was quiet and dark, the former a general aspect of Deneb and the latter a result of choice lighting and the smoky air floating about.

Leona stays close to you as you make way further in the bar, as you expected, Masoch sat alone at the bar counter. A mature looking woman with dark brown hair and similarly brown eyes stands behind the bar and makes quiet conversation with him. When the two of you approach Masoch, she gives you two a quick smile then cuts the conversation off, picking up a mug and polishing it with her body turned to the side.

Masoch doesn't turn to look at the two of you, but says sternly as soon as you two get near him, "Don't you two have classes tomorrow?"

"We're not here to drink."

You take a seat left of Masoch, and Leona takes a seat left of you. You can see her curiously take in the bar atmosphere, you recognize that look to mean that you'll be doing all the work.

>CONT

Masoch's beret sits on the table upside down, a little mouse sits inside of it chewing on nuts. His weight is against the counter-top, where a rocks glass of some clear liquor sits in front of him, the ice is mostly melted and the lime garnish is untouched.

"So did you come expecting to catch a teacher drinking?" Masoch shifts his eyes to you, you'd never met his gaze so close before but there's a red glow to his fierce stare, a demonic look in contrast to his golden blonde hair.

"We were hoping you could point us to somewhere that sells Daktori weapons, Silvest said you knew about just about everything."

You hear Leona order a drink.

"Daktori weapons huh... yeah, there's a place in The Calico District, the alley between the barber shop and the lanternsmith. They might have some imports there." Masoch shifts his look away from you after hearing the question, he just stares at his drink.

"Ooooh..." Leona whispers as the bar-woman sets a tall glass in front of her, a green liquid floats around in it wrapping over ice, a few limes are trapped at the bottom. She holds it up to you so that you can get a better look at it, "There're so many drinks I've wanted to try." She giggles and takes a sip, her lips pucker at the taste.

>Let Leona finish the drink and exit for The Calico District
>Let Leona have some fun while you talk to Masoch about...
>Masoch and drinking
>Masoch's life
>Masoch and The Seekers
>Write-In

>>31335585
Note to self: 4Chan will remove indents. Add ellipses in the future.

Also, you guys have no idea how much fun I have describing drinks.

>>31335585
>Write-In

>Order a glass, and split the drink
ask Masoch if there's anywhere we can buy a dog

>>31335585
>Write-In
Ask Leona if she's ever actually drank anything before, if so let her drink, if not take her by the hand and leave the bar.

>>31335585
>Let Leona finish the drink and exit for The Calico District

>>31335732
I can dig it seconded

>>31335680
Remember the whole thing where dogs aren't kept as pets, because they're servants of the evil god?

>>31335902
Actually I interpreted as people just beliving that also didnt we mention a couple of threads ago that we didn't belive that something is born evil?
Plus from the flashbacks seems like we like dogs

>>31335958
Ya gotta smite ALL the evil boy.
B-but they were just babies!
ALL THE EVIL

>>31335958
Yeah, I know. I was just thinking itd be weird to ask the professor guy for one.

>>31335732
This.

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>>31335978

"Have you ever actually gone drinking before Leona?" You glance over to your companion a little worried.

"Of course! Not at a bar but Belgrans are weaned on alcohol!" Leona states triumphantly, somehow you're not too sure about this but you decide to let her have her drink anyways.

Leona sips away at her cocktail, making puckered lips every few goes. The dropped limes likely give it a bit of zest.

As soon as she finishes the first one she raises her hand to goad the bar-woman over. There's a saying that Belgrans have two states when they drink, as good as sober and as dead as a Daktori farmhand.

>Stop Leona and go
>Let her keep going and...
>...Talk to Masoch (Previous options)
>...Order a round for yourself.
>...Make conversation with the bar-woman.

>>31335958
Can we even keep pets? I'm kinda against it, we would be buying food for two.

>>31336087
>...Make conversation with the bar-woman.

>>31336087
>...Make conversation with the bar-woman
Also, only let Leona have the second one.

>>31336087
>Stop Leona and go
Come on, we have a lead and we don't want to be paying for a person's dinner for a week.

>>31336087
>Let her keep going and...
>...Order a round for yourself.

>>31336141
I think we dont actually have to pay if we lose. Its mostly a thing between Rein and Yu'yen

>>31336154
also ask teach about dog

>>31336174
>I think we dont actually have to pay if we lose
>>31332671
>Rein and Yu'yan discuss the terms of the little contest, between your group (It seems you're being counted) the person who brings in the Daktori mace will have their meals for the week paid for by the losers.
>"Hey, how about we work together on this one? If you win, just don't make me chip into those meals alright?"
No, we're being counted. We have to pay, along with all the other losers, if anyone other than Leona wins.

>>31336087
>...Make conversation with bar-woman
>Let Leona keep going
>... Order a round for yourself
might as well ask about dog if we can squeeze it in there just to find out why not.

>>31336215
Oh, shit, you're right. I change mine >>31336130 to leaving the bar with Leona.

>>31336087
>Stop Leona and go

You call the bar-woman over and order a drink for yourself, a simple beer suits you just fine, it was what your benefactor drank most of the time. Masoch mumbles something while the lady pours you your drink but when you look at him he still has his attention right on his glass.

"So you two are Masoch's students?" She hands you your beer and gets on Leona's order, a 'Seven's Sunrise' which she skillfully mixes without looking.

"Yeah," You answer her, "Although someone else is teaching us arms right now."

The bar-woman smiles as she sets Leona's drink down, your companion claps her hands together once before having at it.

"So, how is Masoch as a teacher? I bet he's a real hard-ass about it." The woman leans forward and layers her fingers over each other, a ring sits on the the ring finger of her left hand, even in the smokey bar you can see that it's well polished.

"He's strict."

"Inside the bar doors, you can talk as badly about me as you like." Masoch says. The ice in his drink has completely vanished, the bar-woman just smoothly empties the drink and makes an identical one to set in front of him.

"Well, Kran keeps breaking things and Silvest is... I've got a meow-thful of things to say about him." You respond.

The bar-woman softly laughs and takes away Leona's drink, you're not sure but it looks like it was a different glass from the last one.

"Well, if you like Masoch then you'll be excited when he teaches you weaves. He's always been good at them."

>CONT

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When you finish your beer, Leona's stirring the ice in her empty glass around. How many did she sneak in behind your back?

"Well, we should get going now." You tell Masoch and the bar-woman, but your eyes are stuck on Leona's awkward attempt to sip ice cubes.

"Hahah, don't get any trouble now." The bar-woman scribbles onto a loose piece of paper and passes it to you, it seems she expects you to handle Leona's bill.

"I don't care what you do sober, but I don't condone of you taking advantage of drunken women." Masoch says firmly from his seat.

You sigh and tap on Leona's shoulder, she wriggles around a few times but makes no coherent response. You grab onto her hand but she just pulls against your grip, "Heeey, I'm not done yeeeet."

That second drink was a mistake, especially when it became a third and fourth. The expenses of the drinks is one thing, but your coin bag won't appreciate you paying for Rein or Yu'yen's meals either. It doesn't look like you can finish your job reasonably in time though, you ought to take Leona back.

"Hey hey, look at that bottle. It's shaped like a draaaaaagon..." Leona points at one of the bottles on the wall, she's right, it kind of does... but that's not the point right now.

>[Cunning] Trick Leona into going.
>[Alacrity] Convince Leona she's drank too much.
>[Tenacity] Carry Leona back.

>>31336629
>[Tenacity] Carry Leona back.
Holy shit. Absolutely nothing can go wrong

>>31336629
>>[Alacrity] Convince Leona she's drank too much.

>>31336629
>[Cunning] Trick Leona into going.
Gotta max that Cunning

>>31336629
>[Cunning] Trick Leona into going.
And there we go. We now have spent our money paying for Leona's drinks, and we've essentially lost the bet, as well as with Masoch's last comment, people in the bar think we're a potential date-raper.

Good going there, guys.

>>31336659
>>31336663
I forgot to make a post this time but roll for 1d12 when presented with stats.

Rolled 2

>>31336680

Rolled 1

>>31336680
Here's for Cunning from >>31336677

>>31336709
>>31336722
Well, I take best of two.

Let's give it a couple minutes to see if there're any more votes on how this fails.

>>31336629
>[Tenacity] Carry Leona back.
time for the old princess carry

>>31336659
My roll

Aside from wanting to find our childhood friend, our biggest character trait is that we're poor. Looks like it'll stay that way.

>>31336709
>>31336722
drunken escapades ahoy

Rolled 9

>>31336659
My roll

>>31336677
worth it (we all knew this is how it would play out)

I think he's only taking the first roll, regardless what that person voted for.

Tied between cunning and tenacity, we shall do both.

"C'mon Leona, let's go. We've got..." You think of a follow-up, what do girls like? Cake. Carna loved cake, "Cake back at the dorms. Rein made cake."

"I don't want cake! I want to drink!" Leona back-hands you onto the floor. The bar-woman doesn't seem very compassionate about it, and bursts into laughter. You hear a small chuckle come from Masoch as well. Your luck since you've come to this city hasn't been any good.

Your masculinity is 'a little bit' hurt by the last exchange. You get up, take a deep breath and slip an arm underneath Leona's knees, another around your back and lift her into the air. You can at least look like a man leaving... you think, before Leona slams into your face with her elbow.

The bar-woman's face meets the counter, and Masoch places his gloved hand over his mouth to keep himself from laughing.

Leona raises one fist into the air and declares, "Chaaaampiiiiiiooooon!" Her triumph is short lived, she collapses on top of you moments after.

When you get yourself together, you pick her up, sling her over your shoulders and go to exit the bar. By this point nobody is laughing at you any more, but somehow your wounds only dig deeper.

>CONT

>>31336923
That's outright depressing

>>31336923
Leona STRONK

>>31336923
beautiful thanks Lib

You had to slip Leona's glasses into your pocket to keep from slipping off, a little bent from her tumble. While you piggy-back her to the dorm, you can't help but find yourself a little bit distracted by her face resting lightly over your shoulder. The sweet smell of the fruity drinks she had comes and goes with her breaths, but you do your best to ignore them.

When you return to the dorm and into the kitchens where you agreed to meet, Rein stands triumphantly on top of a table, holding a replacement bone-mace over her head like a sceptre. Yu'yen dramatically grovels at her feet from the floor, he's a fan of taking things an extra mile every time he has the chance.

"Ah," Rein drops the bone-mace when she sees you and Yu'yen barely manages to save it, "What're you doing!?"

Before you can explain anything, Rein leaps off the table and kicks you hard in the shins. You topple forward and she nimbly dodges around you to catch Leona as she tumbles back. The day just keeps getting worse.

"Aaaah! Is this alcohol!? What were you doing!? You weren't trying to take advantage of sweet innocent Leona were you!? How could you, I trusted you!" Rein continues to spout off accusations at you as you hold onto your leg. After she's done, she stomps off angrily with Leona in hand.

Yu'yen crawls over to you, "Do you think this means the bet is off?" He whispers.

"Just... just let me be alone for a moment."

Yu'yen pats you on the back twice before standing and leaving for his room.

>CONT

>>31336958
>>31337035
Okay so revenge, I propose when she wakes up we say something along the lines of
"Last night was crazy. I didn't expect you to have such a wild side. I think I'm bruised a little"

>>31337065
>I think I'm bruised a little
So you want Masoch to rub in how effeminate and weak we are, that we got taken out by Leona of all people?
Because the entire bar did see us get the wind knocked out of us by a slight girl like her. Sure, she might feel a little embarrassed, but it'll still make us look even worse in comparison.

You lay on the floor for a few good minutes, deciding whether or not this ranks above or below the bird-seed incident and getting beaten by children, it definitely beats out the books a little bit.

What takes you out of your stupor is the sound of shuffling coming from the kitchen. It's a fair ways into the night now and the cook should be gone, Anlak is still in the infirmary and you just watched Leona, Rein and Yu'yen leave... who could it be?

You get up and crouch up to the cafeteria counter, pressing your back against it. You wait some moments listening carefully. The door from the kitchen opens and you can hear a sack swaying about in accompaniment to the sound of light foot-steps, you...

>[Cunning] Silently watch and wait, follow them out.
>[Alacrity] Jump and grab the person!
>[Tenacity] Get up and confront the person.

>>31337103
To be fair Belgran women are more stronger than the average bear

>>31336772
>worth it (we all knew this is how it would play out)
I hope that our reputation as a date-rapist who tries to get girls drunk in order to take advantage of them, but then is too weak and gets beat up by them, was worth it.

Rolled 6

>>31337118
>[Cunning] Silently watch and wait, follow them out.
Brutal Cunning

Rolled 6

>>31337118
>[Cunning] Silently watch and wait, follow them out.

>>31337118
>>[Cunning] Silently watch and wait, follow them out.

>>31337118
>[Tenacity] Get up and confront the person.

We gotta toughen up.

>>31337118
>>[Cunning] Silently watch and wait, follow them out.

>>31337134
totaly

A cloaked figure exits from the kitchen, Yu'yen had turned the lights off when he left but you could still see clearly enough to tell that the person didn't want to be seen. They had to have waited for the others to leave before exiting the back, and they're taking quiet, careful steps.

You follow behind them. You might not be strong, and you're a mediocre liar at best but you have confidence in your silent steps.

Matching the paces of the cloaked figure, you follow them out of the dorms hoping to catch them by the lanterns on the streets ahead, unfortunately they swiftly turn a corner to the side of the dorms and stay out of the lights. A master thief? A deadly assassin?

You tuck around the corner in pursuit, then another when you see them turn again. The back, someone wants to get into the dorm's rear-garden where the room windows face. You chase after them but you watch your steps, one more turn into the inner gardens, they'll be trapped soon.

>CONT

>>31337239
Maan, its gonna be another embarrassing encounter.

You slow down your paces to match your target, who kneels down just outside the windows of the girl's rooms. They check the two windows furthest from you, the ones that would be closer to the door and confirm that they're closed with blinds drawn. Shuffling over a bit, they make way to the third window.

Crouching down, they remove some grapes from the stolen bag and dangle them in the air. You sneak up closer, hiding between some bushes to get a closer look.

Removing her hood, Sheryl reveals herself. Her daggered ears aren't a common sight around here, and it'd be hard to think anyone around here would actually be so stupid to steal from The Seekers of Catus when they've little of immediate value and one of the greatest networks on Rascha.

One by one, she picks off little grapes and feeds them to a furry pile in front of her. A small dog, hiding in a small basket with a make-shift blanket over it.

>Approach Sheryl calmly.
>Surprise Sheryl.
>Leave Sheryl alone.

Here's your dog.

>>31337301
>Approach Sheryl calmly.
Should get the dog some meat later.

>>31337301
>Approach Sheryl calmly.
"Sheryl is that you?"

It better be a Siberian Husky breed or something close to it

>>31337301
>Approach Sheryl calmly
Could we also roll Alacrity to whistle the dog over?

>>31337301
Aren't grapes poison to dogs op...

>>31337301
>>Surprise Sheryl.

>>31337334
I don't see why not.

If you'd like to chance it.

>>31337328
More like a mutt. It's a city stray.

Rolled 1, 2 = 3

>>31337354
Chance will be his name

>>31337363
It's Sheryl's dog, it'd be a bit rude to name him.

>>31337363
Well that was terrible, I apologize to all involved

You leave the bushes and approach Sheryl calmly, making a whistle to the dog. You don't catch the dog's attention, but Sheryl does a small hop when she hears you.

When she's realized that it's you approaching, she turns around without standing and spreads her cloak out in an unwieldy attempt to hide the dog.

"You know dogs can't eat grapes, right?" You lean forward and reach into her food bag, rummaging through it for something workable. You probably fed Dog more than Carna did, she was pretty forgetful when it came to feeding herself so feeding someone else was even worse. You pull out a piece of salted meat, not exactly the best choice but better than the other foods Sheryl plucked.

Sheryl hesitantly watches you, but eventually makes way for you to see the dog. It's a Belgran breed, not exactly native to Deneb but close enough that it wouldn't be a stretch for it to have somehow wandered into town. You hold the meat slab up to the dog and it bites away at the piece greedily.

Sheryl watches the dog eat with wonder in her eyes. She digs into her bag in an uncharacteristically rough way and pulls out another piece of meat, bouncing in her boots while she enviously waits for you to finish feeding him yours.

When you complete your turn, she immediately has at hers. The dog seems happy to have more to eat.

>CONT

Rolled 6

>>31337363
I just realized 2d6 isnt the same as a 1d12, sorry. If could reroll that.

Rolled 3

>>31337498
>>31337492
neevermind

"Hope you didn't name him yet." You warn her, unsure whether or not she'd be allowed to keep him. Carna named Dog before she got permission to keep him, and for better or for worse she grew attached really quickly.

"His name is Chance." Sheryl pets the dog with one hand while feeding it with the other. Her naming sense is a fair deal better than Carna's was.

"Are you sure you'll be allowed to keep him?"

Sheryl frowns and pets the dog more quickly.

You sigh, as soon as you get out of the infirmary, you had nothing but bad luck all day. Maybe the gods above will take pity on you if you decide to play your odds with Chance after all that.

"Here, it's going to cold out tonight. I'll take him back to my room and I'll ask if we can keep him in the dorms tomorrow, is that alright?" You suggest to Sheryl, and her eyes light up again. She nods a few times in confirmation, nearly two months here and she still hasn't started talking normally to any of you.

You gave her another ten or so minutes to play with Chance before the two of you make your way back to your rooms the proper way. She holds Chance closely the entire way, you can't help but think back to how Carna held Dog against the rain years ago, but tonight was well-lit under a waning moon.

Feeling more comfortable around Sheryl, you decide to...

>Ask about her and Chance
>Ask about who she's looking for
>Ask about her relationship to the others

>>31337599
>Ask about her relationship to the others

>>31337599
>Ask about who she's looking for

>>31337599
>Ask about her and Chance
She's probably still not comfortable enough for the other questions.

>>31337599
>Ask about her and Chance

>>31337599
>Ask about her relationship to the others
She may not be comfortable enough to open up. We should still try to connect a little beyond this wonderful dog.

>>31337599
>>Ask about her relationship to the others

Also, I hope she'll be the one keeping the dog. What with losing that bet and not having much money to begin with we don't need another mouth to feed.

would it a stretch to think that demon-related people tend to like dogs?
Carna had the giant demon and Sheryl is half-demon and they both had a huge thing for dogs

>>31337720
Well, dogs do come under the dominion of Rasc.

>>31337752
Yeah, but so far its been a thing that we assumed that was just superstition, right?

"We're about two months in here, have you gotten used to the others yet?" You ask Sheryl.

She doesn't respond immediately. Anlak usually takes some time to answer your questions, but almost without fail he'll answer them, with Sheryl it's a struggle to figure out whether or not she's thinking it through or if she's ignoring you entirely.

"I'm sure they'd like you. Everyone's pretty friendly... well, I'm not sure about Anlak yet but Rein seems to get along with him."

Sheryl peeks up your way and quietly speaks, "They saw it..."

It takes you a moment to register what she's talking about, her ears. As friendly as your fellows here are, you're familiar with the taboo elves get for their demon blood.

"I'm sure they don't mind you. It's been weeks since your hood came undone in that battle and Yu'yen is still coming on as hard as usual isn't he? At least, Rein tells me that."

Sheryl's gaze shifts downward, Chance leans up and licks her lightly on the cheek once. You manage to catch another rare smile.

"We're spending six months together at least. Let's be friends."

Sheryl doesn't say anything in response, at least not until you reach the doors...

>CONT

>>31337766
I wouldn't assume anything until we study up on it.

Still underneath the waning moon, Sheryl passes Chance over for you to take back to your room. As soon as you've got the dog in your hands, she speaks, "Don't misunderstand me, I'm not particularly shy or anything. If I didn't have these ears the situation would probably still be the same."

Sheryl tucks her ears behind her hair and pulls her hood over her head, "You're here to find someone aren't you? My goal isn't that sweet. I'm looking for someone too but..."

She struggles to find her words before continuing, "When I find that person, I'm going to kill them. That's what I'm training for. If I end up disposed of on a mission later, I'm prepared for it... so let's not get too used to each other right now. You seem to be having fun, but we're not training to be shining knights here, or great wizards... we're thieves, we're assassins. That's all."

There's a bitterness in her voice, when she finishes her statement she enters the dorms ahead of you. She's not wrong about what she said but...

With her words in mind, you make way back to your room.

>CONT

You curl up into your bed shortly after you return to your room. You've spent way too much time away from your bed, and although it isn't the comfiest one you've ever slept in it's certainly a step up from the one in the infirmary. Chance crawls up against you, and you close your eyes with him nestled up against your chest.

You could've dealt without being pulled into Rein and Yu'yan's competition, you could've dealt without an embarrassing walk through town holding Leona's hand, you could've dealt without getting humiliated by her at the bar.

But tomorrow's a new day, and if you end up groveling so Sheryl can keep her dog then, you can think of it as another count.

The breed isn't anything alike, but there's a nostalgic feeling in sleeping with Chance in your arms. When Carna picked up Dog, she'd always bring him over when she slept at your place. Under the covers you'd chat for some hours until both of you were too exhausted to chat any longer, you'd always stay up a little longer to make sure she slept first and Dog would always slip out of her grip and curl up beside you. The warmth coming off of Chance's body brings you back a little to those times.

Your injuries are healed, and tomorrow you can get back to work. One step at a time, you make way to find Carna.

And so, life goes on.

File: 1396940600173.jpg-(114 KB, 537x1000, sketchyleona.jpg)

114 KB JPG

Aaaaand, that's the end of today folks. Thanks for playing, looks like we had a few more participants than usual, though they only came out of the wood works when Leona started being cute.

As usual, I welcome any and all criticisms. If you'd tell me what you're enjoying about the quest too I'd appreciate it.

>>31337911
well. we're depressingly inept, but portrayed in an interesting manner. I think that means you did a good job.

>>31337893
we went to bed with leoas glasses in our pocket woo we have a reason to broach conversation tomorrow morning

>>31337911
>>31337893
I really liked it when you tried to fit all our suggestions into the outcome. If you can keep doing that, Ill keep coming back.

>>31337911
The dog kinda seemed like it was forced in by one anon.

I guess it could make sense if Sheryl had a dog companion though if this is correct >>31337720

>>31337990
It seems to be as much our dog as Dog was.

>>31337990
I was meaning to hand over a dog last session, but then the protagonist got wrecked.

I was going to name it Vodka but I liked Chance a lot, so I'll save Vodka for another day.

>>31338060
Hopefully Sheryl will be more competent at taking care of a dog than Carna was.

>>31338076
last session the protagonist was the most badass he's been since the bird seed incident

>>31338085
She almost poisoned him, so I dont think she will be

>>31338125
Direct her to Nitt's bookshop.

>>31338076
so Lib whats the eta on the next session

>>31338223
Aiming for Wednesday night, reviewing for an exam between posts.

Failing that, Friday should be doable if I don't get a hangover.