Tiger & Snake on Northern Manse

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10


* Kahn had been chatting it up with Scales, but stopped abruptly once Dal re-entered the room. She sat back, then looked puzzled as she took the ice wrapped in cloth and placed it to her neck*

" They have been fine. These lands are not too different that where they came from. The hardest part is trying to figure out where they stand in the world now... but acceptance comes in time... what about your people?"

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 10





"Trading... Training, and praying." *He nodded out each point.*

"They have been spending a lot of time at the temple, and with my training on the side... they are becoming a little like warrior monks, though they are far from ready for any war. I hope to intensify their training one day so they might help maintain the peace in the city."

*He sat back in his chair, relaxing noticeably feeling as though he could carry on an easy conversation for a while at this rate.*

"Perhaps you should think about finding a way to give your followers a roll in Imperveress as well, give them work, give them purpose they say... With their experience in tribal warfare perhaps training them to be Imperial scouts to keep some eyes and ears out beyond the Empires walls."

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* She shrugged, sitting back herself. She looked upwards at the inside of the opalescent ceiling that the Bezair manse had.*

" I suppose they could. As of late, they have been enjoying a safe life for a change... Between Walker in Darkness and The Mask of Winters, my people have seen many horrors and hardships. Yes, they have been keeping their skills high as a warrior people... but they have also been taking to positions of a civilized nation... Mining, smelting, smithing... many crafting trades surround Aranea.... its a mixed blessing."

* She heaved a sigh, then looked back down at Dal, leaning forward rom her previous lounge*

" My people have taken this Empire's leaders as their pantheon... it means for a more diverse and free people... but it also changes my relationship with them.... but then again, that is fine... if I am to see Walker in Darkness again for our final rematch, I want to make sure they are in good hands should things work against me."

* Kahn nodded, putting a hand on her knee and using it to brace herself. She spoke as if she were telling a story about having to do something simply distasteful, like removing the refuse from the city, not something that could very well get her killed... and just as quickly, she changed the subject*

" Have you been thinking about the surrounding kingdoms around Imperveress?"

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 10





"Well, now that you mention it, I have been working with a pair of dragon blooded that are working on trade excursions to areas around the empire... Outside of that not much else, I'm not much for conquering if that's what you mean, but perhaps my religious status could help absorb them into our Empire."

*Dals eyes shifted around the room, thinking he had definitely heard something odd on the other side of the room.*

"As for your vendetta... I will help you however I can, whether that be as a training partner, or if it doesn't matter to you either way and you just want those evil bastards dead I'll help and fight right beside you when that day comes... Least I can do considering our ancient history. All things taken into perspective we may be destined to be a fierce team you and I."

*He wondered a while what Kahn knew about her past self, and fidgeted slightly when he realized he was spacing out.*

"How much to you know about Avalisa anyway?"

[Arachnia of the Hour]

Resplendent Fire 10,

*the little girl twitched when Dal looked at her, and she held her breath, though it was already hard to tell that she was breathing. She settled in a little closer to the wall, doing her best to remain blended with the shadows as she soaked up what the two warriors were saying; and what they weren't. That giant snake thing might be a problem, and she hoped it wouldn't blow her cover as she already suspected that it might know she was there*

[Ress]

Resplendent Fire, 10

" Not a conquerer?... not much like Cho-Hi-Xo then, yes?"

* She chuckled as she looked around, then smelled the air, her face scrunched up a moment, then relaxed*

" Well thank you... but you don't know this thing. Walker is the embodiment of everything you are afraid of and don't know it. I can't ask you to be a part of this and still like myself in the morning.... And what I know about Avalisa is that she could have taken down Walker all by herself. This soul that her and I held off the Primordial Ta'akozoka while Empress Arachnia's past self dammed the river that sustained him with her webbing.

Avalisa also stood along side Queen Merela and The Unconquered Sun against Cemunian, and when the mad solar Me'kaltar threatened to Annex The North from Creation, it was Avalisa who was there to make sure that his legions of behemoth shock troop soldiers did not get anywhere near the Dragon Blooded troops we needed for the final skermish!

I know that Avalisa is everything I ever wanted to be, and now can be. She also told me that she used to wipe the floor with you... but to be careful, because Cho-Hi-Xo was one of the most impressive solars she had ever known. Other than that, she only talks to me when she feels I need it..."

* She sighed, thinking about the grand deeds her predecessor had accomplished, hoping that she could walk in those footsteps*

* The kitchen door flung open, Quie-Ra walked through them, holding a large pot in one hand and a wide silver plate in the other. He stopped next to their table, chuckling as he stood a moment*

" This is familiar... now then!"

* He stomped his foot, causing two bowls to fling into the air, he then knocked the spinning bowls with his elbow, causing them to land before Dal and Kahn. Quie-Ra then filled their bowls up with what looked like venison and oat stew, holding in laugher the whole time*

" Hello again Kahn... I knew Avalisa well and this was one of her favorite things to eat."

* Once the stew was served, he uncovered the silver plate, retrieving two plates with lobsters on them*

" And this is what Cho liked... he even had a giant race of lobsters commissioned... but those were wiped out when the invaders came... it was too bad."

[Arachnia of the Hour]

Resplendent Fire 10,


*the girl in the corner's tongue flicked out, it's forked end trembling in the air for a split second before retreating just to come back out again. The scent of food reminded the little girl that she was hungry and she forgot her post to dart out and run up to Quie Ra. Her glossy black hair was short, kept to just under her chin, and her eyes were yellow with an upward slit. It was these eyes that were focused intently on the god as she tried to stay in place for an answer*

Mister! Can I have some! Um, please? Yeah, please!

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 21





"You don't need to ask me, whatever happens... happens because of the way we choose our path. You faced him before in fear because you fought for revenge, for freedom. Consider that fear is often..."

*Dal was interrupted but grinned when he saw Quie-Ra burst in from the kitchen, happy he would soon have some food after the long day and after the exertion of fighting. He had practically lived off of the crustaceans that infested the underbelly of the ship he was enslaved on as a boy, and before that on his island home they were a primary part of his peoples diets. Either way it was food he was very familiar with, but not his favorite as Cho-Hi-Xo felt in the past. The soup filled his nostrils and he began moving for the table when the little girl cut him off and intercepted Quie-Ra.

He looked at her with a combination of baffled amusement and surprise. The audacity of the girl to sneak into his manse and then expect food, where did these children keep coming from?*

"Uhm... Hello child, welcome to my home, if you would like some food please sit down at the table. But let us first start with your name."

[Arachnia of the Hour]

Resplendent Fire 10,

Crap!

*The girl froze and then slowly turned on her heel to face Dal. She had meant to stay hidden, but the smell of food... it was so tasty.... She went from a little statue to wearing a completely guilty expression. You could almost see the anime sweatdrop at her forehead*

Uh... Hi. I'm Uichcka. Thanks for the food!

*as quickly as she had become still the girl was in motion, darting into the nearest chair next to Kahn. She was a bit small and definitely slender, though she looked healthy*

Sorry I interrupted your flirting before anything happened. I was trying to wait. You can still kiss, though, I won't tell

*Uichcka beamed at them all while she swung her legs back and forth under the seat*

[Ress]

Resplendent fire 10,

* Kahn looked at the child, now knowing this was who she had smelled in the room. She chuckled a little at the brazen child, this being a trait that she wished more people had*

" Well hello Uichcka. Where did you come from?......"

* Kahn became silent when she processed what the small child had said about Kahn and Dal, not angry, more surprised that such a thing would come up*

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 21





*Dal made a spluttering sound that sounded like he was choking on his previous breath. His eyes darted over to Kahns and then back to the child. He pounded his chest gently trying to play it off like it had been a hickup rather than an involuntary spasm.*

" Oh... haha. That's adorable... This is just - dinner. Between two martial artists!"

*He laughed a little as he spoke but was altogether very convincing, part of being a good showman. He really hadn't planned on anything romantic but considering his ancient history with her and his current situation he was smack dab in the middle of looking guilty. Especially with the way Quie-Ra was acting.*

[Arachnia of the Hour]

Resplendent Fire 10,

*Uichcka shook her head back and forth, her hair staying fairly in place as she did so*

Can't be just dinner, your face is hot and you both keep looking at each other. Your bodies face each other at all times and you lean in when you speak. So don't lie, you two have something naughty going on and I missed out. Damn.

*the girl frowned at her missed opportunity and crossed her arms over her chest for a minute before realizing her food was going to get cold and seemed pretty interested in getting it, now sending very obvious looks of "me, too!" at Quie Ra in his role of keeper of food*

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* Quie-ra's face turned pink as he attempted to contain his laughter. This child was just too funny, and if nothing else, this deserved some oat chowder as well.
Procuring a bowl from what could only be elsewhere, the field god placed it on the table before the child and filled it with chowder.*

" Yes... Martial Artists.... dinner.... excuse me".

* Quie-ra beat a quick retreat, followed by the muffled sounds of explosive laughter stuck behind a the heavy door to the kitchen*

* Kahn looked at the child, then to the kitchen door, and finally at Dal. Her face was neutral for a second, then contorted to annoyed as she leaned forward to him*

" What are you trying to say? Am I not good enough for you?! Am I just a filthy barbarian to you?...."

*She sat back down, crossing one leg over the other as she leaned back*

" More into the book smarts type and less the muscles? More of an Arachnia type? You are better off then... I would probably snap you in half with my legs any way..."

* She settled back down, shuffling in her seat before taking up her spoon and shoveling down the soup*

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 21



*Dal resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He hadn't taken Kahn for a drama queen. A sly smile came across his face as he thought about what he might have said in reply without his currently monkish convictions in place. Something along the lines of how she was indeed a filthy barbarian, and she needed to visit his bath, and to bring him along for guidance in its proper use... Kahns choice of words was almost an too easy an invitation for him to twist. He caught himself in these thoughts and wondered why exactly he was thinking them in the first place, he reminded himself that he had no such intentions. He played on with the hopeless monk act for safety.*

"Er... what? No I didn't say that!" *Waiving his hands frantically*

*He knew what she was doing, she may not know it herself... Or she knew it as well as he did. She was a woman and cultural background aside it seemed every woman in the world was born with inherent knowledge of how to manipulate men. The tiger is a stealthy and cautious but it's the snake with the forked tongue. Just as with the fight before he wouldn't let her offense work as intended.*

"Hmn? actually, I'll bite, why so interested in what my type is anyway?"

*This kid had really stirred something up and Dal was careful not to forget she was still there listening. He would try to avoid leading any conversations inappropriate for the little one. He omitted his serene smirk by splitting open and shoving some lobster in his mouth.*

[Arachnia of the Hour]

Resplendent Fire 10,


*Uichcka seemed pretty pleased with herself as she turned so that she could eat and watch at the same time. At least they had stopped denying parts of themselves, though the twitch and minute pause of the Solar man made the girl roll her eyes at him. Liar. After Kahn's outburst and Dal's rebuttal, the girl flicked her tongue out to catch a few remnants from her lips, careful to catch the food on the right sides of her tongue so it didn't slip through the middle*

Mr. Solar, why don't you just tell her you want to have sex with her? If it's because of me, I know what sex is and I can leave so I'm not interrupting

*Uickcka's face broke into a bright smile and she gave him a single-shouldered shrug to show him she wasn't bothered by the prospect of leaving. She took a moment to pat Kahn on the leg*

Don't worry Miss Lunar, super sexy barbarian women are a city boy's secret want and a working man's wet dream