Pocketful of Galaxies

Jubibi can't help but laugh at the growl of his stomach or how he tries to cover it up with his words. As if changing the subject would make him any less hungry than he already was. Yet, even still, he stays on the topic of food that can be made and she's laughing even more, a hand coming to try and cover her mouth.

"Well, I certainly wouldn't mind teaching you sometime if you'd like," she offers, ears flicking happily. "I've been trying to teach the boys, but with Bunny at least it can be a bit difficult to teach him anything while he's still getting used to being around people." And she certainly wouldn't mind having another student - least of all if that happened to by G'raha. She might especially enjoy his addition to their little classes.

Wait, what. Had he heard her right. She'd really be willing to teach him how to cook. Oh my, oh.....oh my. Quickly shaking his head from side to side when she suggested the recomminations of others. "No no. I would be honored, truly to learn cooking from you." As he knew excellent teachers, but they were professionals. And he was afraid to mess up.

Breath hitching, Mari falls back on her rump briefly, in shock. Yanqing had struck in just the nick of time, for it wasn't a second longer before Mari had felt her frame buckle. On the ground, she stared up at the monster, gawking. Her mind screams at her to move; what are you doing, idiot?! Move, move!

Even as her innards twisted with nausea and her head throbbed, Mari knew she couldn't stay here. She wouldn't just be failing herself if she did—she'd be failing Yanqing. She'd be failing Ratha, and Navirou, and Kyle, and everyone she knew—

Gnashing her teeth, the rider scrambles to her feet with a growl. The Lunagaron's balance teetered in its writhing, and seeing a nearby crate that had miraculously evaded damage where it lay, Mari snatches the wooden box and smashes it straight into the side of the monster's jaw. The lunagaron lets out another yelp as it collapses onto its side and struggles to get up.

He didn't hesitate to when she was close to him, to reach out his hand and grasp at hers. Yanqing also yelled at any Cloud Knights that were still nearby to retreat for the time being.

Sometimes she felt like it was more than a little interesting how things had ended up now versus the start of her journey. Making friends with someone from the Fatui wouldn't have been an option back then at all. She hadn't hated them, but she had definitely been wary.

And then Childe just had to be...well, Childe and then it went from there. Now she had a handful of friends inside the Fatui.

She couldn't help but feel like this was going to cause problems someday.

Letting a playful smile cross her lips, Lumine reached out to slip her arm through Navia's. "...May I escort you, Mademoiselle~?"

Navia couldn't help but giggle when Lumine linked her arms with hers. "How very kind of you. And who I am to refuse such an escort, come let us be off." The other was so cute, adorable and such a lovely person to be around.

So once she made sure that both their arms were comfortable, Navia gestured with her free hand to start to lead the way. "Even though this is a serious investigation, I am glad to be the one you chose to do it with. However. I couldn't help but notice, that you seemed to be lost in your thoughts a few moments ago. Is everything alright?"

But the panic started to sink in. Her mind lingered to the thought of what he could possibly do with her there? The look on his face told her one thing. There was no changing his mind. There was to talking her way out of this. Eliane her other hand with the ornament to infuse with magic. What interrupted it, was a familiar dark portal that Fandaniel emerged from. The elezen paused for a second, realizing her one attempt at escape had been ruined.

Zenos was unfazed by the sudden visitor. So, she won't give the other the attenrion they so desperately desired. That didn't change the fact that she now had two eyes on her. But Zenos' words made her panic a bit more. That they'll be taking her all the way to Garlemald. No. That cannot happen. She had to make one more desperate attempt to escape. "No, I won't be going with you." She raised the ornament once again, channeling her magic. If she could pull it off, vines with thorns if she could wrap around their feet. It would give her a head start, even if slowly, get a distance away. Maybe someone could find her.

Zenos just continued to walk towards her, his own weapon now drawn and gripped tightly within the palm of his hand. Fingers curled tightly and then slowly the blade raised, only to be brought back down in the blink of an eye. Whatever it was she was trying to do was futile. And whatever spell she was speaking he simply ignored it.

"Again, I do admire your foolish bravery. However. You will be coming with us to Garlemald, it is not up for discussion." Zenos spoke in his usual monotone words, as it was also a signal for Fandaniel to move behind her to grab her.

"Naruto. How come you're just saying that now? You know you've got friends who would listen. That is something you shouldn't have to go through by yourself, how long has that been going on?" Sakura was very concerned. Sure they always haven't seen eye to eye, but she was still his good friend who was always there for him. For anything.

"I feel it's my duty to remind you that you ALWAYS say something like that and then end up using me as a stepladder." He was being cheeky, but it was just as much a ruse to deflect his own negative feelings as it was for anything else.

She was right though--soon enough he was in the trees to avoid leaving footprints. Though Zen had given him a lot of cover by issuing a direct order, he still didn't want to have this used against him later...or worse, using his involvement in these matters against Zen.

Then he really wouldn't have a choice but to leave, would he?

A strangely apathetic expression settled on his face. Don't think about those things right now.

"It could just be me, but have you gotten a lot faster? Not that its a bad thing. And i'm kind of glad to see you so agile. Also don't worry about me falling behind or anything. I've steeled my own body to keep up, and go for a long while before wanting to stop."

It took him a few moments to remember, before he smiled. "Oh. Right! Reiju, you're also Sanji's sister right." Now he recalled her name, but then his face went to one of confusion. "Wait. I was poisoned? Oh well. Thanks again for sucking the nasty poison out."

"I'm excited to potentially learn about Azem's experiences. She was the Traveler of the Convocation. She explored the Star and maybe even saw other worlds beyond it. But, at the same time... What did she learn? What secrets did she uncover and keep hidden, and what will it mean for me?"

"We'll see as more comes to light. Azem, and you are connected. While we knew that Meteion traveled the stars as well. We didn't get to learn much from her, except the despair she experienced. I am excited to see what you will unlock, and what you will learn. And of course, you will share it with us so we can document it."

Edna personally doesn’t find it too funny, so she is a little creeped out by Ion’s laughter. She watches the humans panic, but they’re kinda boring to her, so only the man who calls Ion a green gremlin catches her attention. Ion being a green gremlin is actually rather funny, so she smirks in amusement when Ion seems very offended.

“W-Well, I’d assume you’re a little boy, but you don’t seem very scared,” the man nervously replies back. He doesn’t see the two skeletons posed behind him as he continues, “Realistically, no little boy would be out here all by himself! Y-You’re obviously someone in disguise! A gremlin with wicked powers——”

But the man suddenly stops talking, looking at his shadow on the ground. He slowly turns his head, widens his eyes, and narrowly dodges a violent swing from one of the skeletons by rolling away! His back slams into the rock he’s been hiding behind, looking so scared, Edna fears he might faint from trauma. “I-If I had known this mountain was haunted by fiends like you, then I wouldn’t have come! That’s it! I’m outta here!!” He leaps up and immediately starts scrambling away. He manages to grab his knapsack before hightailing it back to the entrance, ditching everyone else.

Ion only seemed to be disgusted by this mans words. Little boy, certainly he was a young boy. But coming from the mouth of a scared human who was just making Ion grow more irritated, made him want to smite him on the spot. However he held back just as he watched the skeletons attacked. And thus that was one less human now on the mountain. The mans reaction left Ion laughing even more.

However, the laughing soon subsided as he turned to look at Edna. "You really think so? Well I suppose I could humor them with this gremlin act. But did you see that man just run off leaving behind his friends. What an absolute idiot, I bet he wet his pants. But lets get rid of these other intruders."

Eliane took a deep breath and forced herself to sit up. Trying not to flinch when her body ached. She wanted to keep her eyes on him. For a quick moment her gaze went to her weapon. If she could get on her feet again and was fast enough, she could get it.

The thoughts in the back of her mind were screaming not to do anything foolish. Yet despite that best judgment, the elezen forced herself to her feet. Her eyes remained on Zenos as she took a staggered step towards where her rapier was kicked.

Part of her hoped she could talk her way out of this. But the likelihood of that happening was minimal. The chances of her winning the fight felt even more unlikely. Part of her wanted to internally scream and pray to Halone to give her the strength and fury to overcome this. But also for Hydaelyn for it as well. But she had to try something-

Hmm, bore him. How would he become bored if he took her away as a prisoner to Garlemald. That was almost amusing. "Bore me, no. As it would give me a reason to keep you close. To keep an eye on you so you do not wander away to tell others of my plans." Zenos smirked as he went to move closer to her. As everything up until now has been thwarted because of the meddling of her, and countless others.

As Zenos was about to speak once more, another voice chimed in. Just as annoying like nails running down a chalkboard.

"My lord here you are, when you hadn't returned I grew concerned. Now I see it was the fox chasing the hare. You had to only ask and I would have brought your precious friend to you." Fandaniel stepped forward with a bow, then raised his head to glance over to Elaine.

"...I do have some, but I'd have to grab it out of my...teapot." Realizing that sounded strange, she raised her hands-- "Ah, not one you drink tea out of! It's a...well it's a pocket dimension of sorts created by one of Liyue's Adepti....a lot of the things Paimon and me have are stored in the house in there."

He still might think it odd, but at least he wouldn't think she was just...shoving paper into a random tea pot.... "Actually, I might have some of the things we need in there...we can go take a look first...?"

They did tend to collect a lot of random junk and artifacts, but they also just had....useful things.

"Its fine. Though I have heard some things, you just gave me a complete description. I've never been in one. Honestly. What kind of reaction were you hoping to get out of me by telling me? There are a lot of odd things in thie world so whats one more." He remained perfectly calm.

Right, the pharaoh's origins were unknown. So much so the the family guarding his tomb didn't know anything useful. Nibbling his lip, Joey let out a sigh to himself.

It felt like he was out of the loop with the whole nameless pharaoh thing.

It's probably best to check out the museum.

The question was that would he go there alone? Or take Yugi with him? Yugi had already gone before. Wouldn't going there again dredge up anxious feelings for the guy?

"Would it be cool if you went with me?" Joey asked suddenly, taken aback by his own suggestion. The words flew out of his mouth before he could process what he said— though he didn't intend to take them back.