innovator.

"Miqo'te..." she echoes, ears flicking. "That's from... Eorzea, right? I'm not from there myself, but I knew a young man who was, and he told me about some of the things from that world. He made it sound like such a pretty place... I wish I could've seen it for myself..."

A small, sad smile settles on her lips. That must been a few years ago, now.

Whomever she spoke to must have only been for Eorzea - which was fine, he supposed. "Hhetsarro - that is what I am. Similar people, different tribe." His gaze went to the ground for a moment, thinking on the family he never knew.

"But your lack of tail - honestly, I hardly can judge. Tails can be different, glamoured to be hidden, perhaps even removed in an injury." She seemed a sad girl, and he couldn't help but remember back when his own sister was quiet and sad.

⚜ "Apologies. I keep trying to turn this device off, but pushing the button I use to turn it on doesn't seem to help." Cartethyia felt a little embarrassed, having to ask a stranger about something that most of the people in the city appeared to understand just as well as the backs of their own hands.

This man, a man with feline features at that, had noticed her fidgeting with her smartphone. Her pointy ears dipped down to indicate that she was getting upset.

"If it's easier for you, I can re-map the power button to allow it to power off if you need it to. But first let me make it so it stops going off. See, here-" he leans over, showing her where the settings are, "The icon that looks like a gear. Oh, but it's making the noises because you're getting notifications. Messages, electronic mail. Erm," another pause.

perhaps that was why he invited him out for a drink or two, them now sitting at a table to themselves, drinks before them and willing to be drank. and, in turn, mehrak under their gaze, too.

❝ Its name is Mehrak. It means little light. ❞ of course he would have no issue with answering the questions koana has, a pride of his work engraved in every curve and nook to be displayed. ❝ I built it myself. You could say it's an assistant to my work, especially when I truly need the help, ❞ he continues, his own cup now lifted to his lips in order to take a hearty sip.

He takes a sip of his own drink, trying to keep a straight face as he does, although the flick of his tail and the twitch of his ears likely betrays his lack of affinity for strong tasting food and drink.

Clearing his throat, he continues.

frozen, the warrior waits for the sensation to fade, lowering his cup back down to the counter. already a question of his own sits ready upon his tongue, wishing to counter it all with disbelief; he should know. but, this wasn't the first time someone he knew no longer recognized them. wouldn't be the last time, either, would it?

"ah -- r-right, my apologies." he offers the other man a passing glance, eyes quick to avert towards his drink shortly after. "guess i overheard the name after catchin' a glimpse o' ya... got a bit carried away with the recognition."

he raises his glass again, swirling the contents of it and watching the gentle slosh of liquid. giving himself a quick second a small sigh passes his lips then -- down goes another mouthful. quicker this time, finishing off the glass.

"Nicknames are...Overly familiar in most Eorzean miqo'te groups, yes?" He can't help but fluster at the idea, shaking his head, "But you seem to be familiar with me, given you doubt I'd be coming to your place of business."

❝ That is a creative way to halve the work. Yet... ❞ she trails off a little, lips pursing as if she should even pose this query. ❝ What if our respective flairs do not, as they say, 'mesh well.' ❞ that was how they phrased it here, right? at least from what little lingo she had managed to pick up.

His tail flicks as he focuses on the project at hand, firmly being sure not to look at the Warrior of Light. "Naturally, people cannot be expected to work well together by simple tinkering, but I think we can make something work here."

Metal was metal at the end of the day, but even Milla knew not to underestimate some of the properties of the rarer ore. And that wasn't even accounting for whatever "new" ones had managed to make their way here as well. A journal like hers was going to never stay empty at the rate the lalafell was running...

"Sorry, I hardly know how to handle any of this. It is much easier to focus on the type of metal used to forge a blade." Holding up the dagger, he returns to focusing on it.

of all the people to go wandering through skullrender's doors.

"better they settle on in here than elsewhere, given how lively a bunch i manage to wrangle in. i find my own comfort in knowin' there's enough like-minded bastards for me to even run this joint!" but, he could see the other side of it -- the uncertainty with the lot he's wrapped himself up with. he liked to believe he kept things well managed.

allowing a tilt of his head, dar attempts to shake aside the last bits of disbelief lingering over him while seizing a seat at the bar. almost comical to have the second promise sat beside him like this, here.

Not that he requires such things, and if anything he sort of preferred being an unknown in Sharlayan, but...

"Sorry, but, who are you?" He tilts his head, ears flickering as he considers the breadth of information he'd just received from the owner of this place.

"I do apologize if we spent time together in Sharlayan - although I did go by a different name, there are some people from my class who know my true name now." A pause, he looks around the...Brawling bar?

picking up one of the firework customization kits, she trades it between each hand as if inspecting it. ❝ I saw they allow us people to create our own designs. You can even put in your own messages to show across the skies! ❞ and while she had seen firework displays, she had never had a chance to really put her own up there for all to see. it seemed exciting, if not a little daunting on what to put.

❝ Should we create one together? Or perhaps it's best to see what it is the other comes up with... ❞

"I suggest we work together, and if we fire two fireworks at the same time, we can make a larger design using the two combined."

"That way we can decide on a more complex design, while each taking a half of it to put our own unique flair into our respective parts." Placing the components back on the table, he turns to the Warrior of Light herself.