Absolution

her sights set on Rafal, assessing the axe in his possession, a weapon type she rarely saw up-close and one easily capable of widespread damage if they were pushed to fight. as with others, her curiosities turned to the reasons for wielding the weapon in his world — conflict between humans? a universal enemy in monsters? would the chance arise and they not be in danger of being ambushed at any time, she hoped to find out.

"Do you doubt my abilities?" Rafal raises an amused brow.

"No need. I have killed many, many people. If there is one thing I am capable of doing, it is that... If it comes down to it, you may leave the task in my hands."

He walks in silence, eyes still scanning. He was happy to leave it at that, heavy as it already was. He was not a good man. He was a very flawed and dangerous person. It was only fair for his allies to know who they were working with.

"What is your experience? You seem experienced, but you don't strike me as a soldier."

"You have such a positive way of framing it." He huffs. Being literally dragged along and recommended clothing, it was dizzying! But It was necessary, and not as big of a hassle as he made it out to be, despite his grumblings.

"It was... not unpleasant, I suppose. I needed more clothes." The dragon shrugged, resting his hand on his hip. "Her tastes were very vibrant, but in line with many in this city, so I needn't step in often... I find bright colors suit me."

[Bright pink on white and black is very fashionable!]

"Though sounds like they knew a thing or two about fashion. I've been thinking about going shopping myself for awhile now. Just never the time nor anyone else to go along with."

A wyvern certainly wasn't the greatest when it came to that line of off hour fun after all...

He raised a brow. Then he chuckled wryly. Going on another shopping trip with the original of someone he wronged. He really couldn't help but be amused by the situation.

"So that is what you were getting at... You could certainly do better for a shopping companion," Rafal says, crossing his arms with a reserved smile.

✂ "Whoa there! What are you sulking about? You look like your house just got destroyed in a trash storm." Did this city experience trash storms? Probably not, but it was too late to consider whether or not the guy had ever heard of them. In a way his sour expression reminded her a little bit of Zanka, so she'd decided to speak up.

It was a little funny when she got on Zanka's nerves after all.

"A what storm?" The strange turn of phrase immediately broke the scowl on Rafal's face, though briefly. The residents of this city have such bizarre lives... He resumed scowling again shortly, as he usually does.

"No." He states bluntly, continuing his pace. (Was she following him? How annoying) "...If you really must know, a bakery I preferred closed. Satisfied? Now go away."

"Sounds rather lively though. And even getting a compliment at the same time to boot? Seems like things are working out for you."

Or maybe she was trying to sell a better situation then the one all of them currently were in...

"You have such a positive way of framing it." He huffs. Being literally dragged along and recommended clothing, it was dizzying! But It was necessary, and not as big of a hassle as he made it out to be, despite his grumblings.

"It was... not unpleasant, I suppose. I needed more clothes." The dragon shrugged, resting his hand on his hip. "Her tastes were very vibrant, but in line with many in this city, so I needn't step in often... I find bright colors suit me."

[Bright pink on white and black is very fashionable!]

" A 10% upcharge on cake. . .

"Yes, i do my own laundry since i am not in my world anymore where i do have some homunculus maids doing the chore work." He seems... well she'll just winging on it as he was looking for an advice about human stuff known as laundry.

"Homunc- Ugh, never mind. Go on." He quickly shakes his head. He did not come here for lore or whatever a 'homunculus' was, he came here to learn how to clean clothes. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Hm, it sounds simple enough. Is there some sort of technique to it? If so, I may need that demonstration. I assume there's more to it than simply dunking the clothes into soapy water, yes?"

✦it's not a net! well... kind of. not the kind you go fishing with though. uh... how does Paimon explain it? we don't have time for this!✦

"Kind of..?" He repeats, befuddled. He listened to the explanation, grasping little. But Lumine was right, the details didn't really matter. They had to get moving.

"The black glass slab? Yes. I would appreciate that. I leave navigation to you, I'll keep watch." He tightened his grip on his axe, prepping for any sudden danger. Fighting was a bit easier to grasp than technology, especially in such a disorienting time.

He has succeeded at small talk without fleeing. Good. He can leave this encounter without feeling he slighted her more than he already had transitively.

" Right, I heard of that. I have been learning they can't help but to meddle with our lives every few months. Like toys." He clicks his tongue with barely concealed frustration.

"Hm... Most have only baffled or frustrated me," he answers. " But... I suppose there were some I did not hate speaking with. Many who are powerful or passionate."

At least she hoped it was. Maybe things had changed yet again while Camilla was trapped out in this world without anyway of anyone knowing she was here in the first place...

"Right, you have siblings... Yes. They are much safer where they belong... Though it is, nice to see them again briefly." He nodded.

Just encountering her was refreshing enough, she needn't stay. She shouldn't stay. But he selfishly enjoyed the brief encounter.

Sara's arms folded across her chest as she studied the student in front of her. He wasn't one she knew well, if at all; he wasn't a part of her clubs or sporting teams, though he had seen him on campus a few times. Why he was currently snooping around the training grounds and her office remained a mystery, and was the reason she was standing in front of him now.

The young man mirrored with crossed arms of his own, stubbornly defiant despite the danger he had put himself in. Don't show weakness, don't show vulnerability, even when cornered.

"I lost my keys, and the expected places turned up nothing." He lied. Yes, keys, clearly something found in club rooms he had never been to.

But he does put the table set of sugar and creamers closer to the other. making a small force of rejection on the idea, for him the purer the material the better it can be sold for.

He threw his head back in a scoff. "Preposterous. It's only 'bad' if you eat nothing else. Trust me, this is nothing compared to my usual consumption."

holding the line felt more a stalling tactic than anything, it felt like pushing back against a force charging onward with only a matter of time before it broken through. but without a direction to go, and their hands tied when it came to fighting the Glitched, there felt little else on the table.

magic on a grand scale... if only they had that kind of power. but the two of them were warriors, not mages. perhaps someone else in the city could fulfil that role, but getting a hold of them... was it possible? it was worth a shot, luck often favoured the Traveler.

"know anyone who might be able do the job?" none of the Teyvatians she knew present would be capable of such — nor the companions of this world, of what she knew of their strengths.

to hear Rafal's assessment of how dire things could be, Paimon found herself rattled. if Baizhu were still around, he'd cover the latter preparations, and the two had heard of a blacksmiths in the city, but knew nothing more than the fact it were a thing.

Rafal promptly shakes his head. "I'm a newcomer, so no. I also struggle to think of anyone from my home." Maybe if the Emblems,every mage, and the dragons pooled all their power..? No, that doesn't sound right either. It wasn't worth considering people who weren't here either.

"How fortunate you won't have to." he states. Would she be more or less insane were she born a mere human? It could go either way, from his limited experience.

"They are quite.... fortunate," he managed to say, " to have such a devout follower."

He thinks he's suffering from some sort of information, and yet, he presses on despite her exuberance. If nothing else, he is curious about these strange , powerful horse beings that can steam roll a Fell dragon through shear personality.

"It's great! At first I didn't want to because I felt I'd be doing a disservice to the ones that I wanted to support. After all with how many tracks and distances everyone does run at I would never want to cut out one section of my beloved umas!" But as most things went with the bright haired girl there was another view on the whole matter.

He nods along, slowly taking it in.

"I see, I understand. You giving them a challenge honors their own efforts. On the battlefield, refusing to fight would only be an insult to their strength." He folds his arms. Maybe a tad... boorish of a comparison, but it's how I felt. To be disregarded, ignored, to be shown pity, all were undesirable.

Hakuri feels himself stiffen when he's approached in a serious-seeming way, both out of surprise and habit. You. Him? Did he do something? He hadn't really been paying attention to where he was wandering...and that had gotten him in trouble before.

But...he relaxes quickly, same as the other person does when they approach him, and is relieved at his misunderstanding of the situation.

"Apothecary...? Wow, I didn't think those types of stores were around in a place like this," he comments, before laughing awkwardly and lifting a hand to rub at the back of his neck.

He raises his brow and opens his mouth. Of course they do! - Ah, but not by that name is this strange modern world. Rafal frowns, mentally fumbling with his vocabulary. "The stores that sell everyday medicine and toiletries. Apothecaries. Whatever it is they are called here. Is that more clear?" He corrects himself, with a shake of his head. Whatever, he'll find it later.

"Anyway. I see." He frowns in thought, debating. He could walk away now, if he wanted, but... "I have recently been moved to this ward myself. Changing route takes some time."

"If you're not a human, then what are you? You look human to me." This is how this is supposed to work, he's fairly certain. He shared something about himself, and now this person will share something about them! Making friends was easy.

His curious gaze follows, and he double takes at the unfamiliar scar. What in the world inflicted that? It Looks too big to be from an arrow. Rafal opened his mouth before thinking better of the question.

"So I see. So then you are otherwise fully healed and well?" he asks with a tilted head, before turning away again.

"A Fell Dragon. Something vile. I would not be offended if you left." In fact, he may prefer that, to no fault of Ivan or Orthrus. Prime Friendship making material right here.

"It has been some time, Camilla."

The familiar purple tresses, and the just as familiar guilt that pangs in his heart and makes speaking to her without cause feel... just a little awkward, honestly. But it would be far worse to pass her by without at least a greeting.

"I hope you have been well. How have you fared these past few months?"

"Well I can't complain about anything. Sure I could go without that little incident at the mansion but what can you expect from the Stars at this rate." Surely the next time they pull something like that it can be far less tense and a little bit more on the enjoyable side.

He has succeeded at small talk without fleeing. Good. He can leave this encounter without feeling he slighted her more than he already had transitively.

" Right, I heard of that. I have been learning they can't help but to meddle with our lives every few months. Like toys." He clicks his tongue with barely concealed frustration.

"Hm... Most have only baffled or frustrated me," he answers. " But... I suppose there were some I did not hate speaking with. Many who are powerful or passionate."