"Yes it appears we have arrived." Hitome says with a smile as she begins to gather her clothing.
Sitting up slowly she rubs her eyes, "Good....I don't think I could have taken another day on this thing. I understand the need of them....I just....well...that's not important right now." She says as she tries to stand, still feeling a little woozie even though the ship is more or less still. She holds her head for a moment as she tries to collect her things and get ready to get off the ship. She was really looking forward to being on solid ground again, she didn't care where it was.
Looking down she realizes that she fell asleep in her Kitsune form and changes back to her human appearance as she changes out of the nightgown into her regular traveling kimono. After getting her things together she sits on the bed and puts her hair back up, using the hair combs she has to hold it in place while a few stubborn strands lay about her face. Sighing slightly she takes a deep breath, "Okay, I think I'm ready now."
She looks around the cabin to make sure she didn't forget anything. Gyo was already gone, she usually left once she was sure that Jin was good and asleep as long as they were somewhere they considered to be relatively safe. Gyo had done that as far back as she could remember, from the time she was a little girl. She kind of gets a small smile on her face at the memory of it as they get ready to leave the ship.
Gathering up the rest of her things Hitoma nods with a smile. "Then here we go" she says opening the door to the cabin, to lead them to the deck of the ship.
On deck, Jin and Hitome see the town of Valwick before them. The weather is a bit chilly, but the sky is clear. Jin feels a pull toward the north side of town.
Looking at Hitome she says, "I feel something, like it's pulling me towards the north side of town. Do you think that's where we'll find this Szef person?" She asks, suddenly looking a little more nervous.
Toni hurries into the kitchen for breakfast dressed in her ceremonial robes. "Guess I'm gonna have a busy day today."
"Why is that?" Asha asks, finishing breakfast.
"I'm expecting some new Summoners today," Toni answers, sitting down.
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"They won't be living here, will they?" Asha asks with a touch of concern in her voice.
"Oh, no, not at all," Toni says. "But I'll have to find a decent meeting place or have Jelks build a Summoner House type-thing..."
Asha lets out a sigh of relief and nods slightly.
Not bothering to summon Gyo in a place that seems safe enough, she takes a breath and goes with Hitome as they head to the north side of town. Getting close to the Old Fish she smells the air before a strange look comes over her face, "Oh....oh Hitome....do you smell that? It kinda smells like...well like home a little bit. That smells like the fish that we used to fry while I was still living by the river. Oh Hitome....it smells so good and I'm so happy to be back on land. Do you think...maybe if we get a chance later we can come by here? It just smells so so good." Shaking her head she tries to get her train of thought back on track, "Alright...there should be plenty of time for exploration later, I guess right now we head this way to the north part of town till we find who we're looking for? There's just....so many things here...and soooo many people." She remarks as they make their way slowly through the town as she tries to keep her nerves under control. They were just people and they didn't know what she really was so it didn't matter...she could do this...she had to do this.
Gyrthr and Svanna walk up behind Jin and Hitome. "Looking for the Szef as well?"
She stops and turns around looking a little embarrassed, "Uh..yeah...I just sorta felt a kind of pull in this direction, so this is the way we're supposed to go I guess? I'm sorry we didn't wait for you....I should have remembered that we were coming to find the same person. I guess I'm still trying to get my land legs back or whatever. I'm feeling a bit better now though." She explains while blushing slightly. She didn't know why she was finding it so hard to talk to other people.
Gyrthr nods. "Being here will be an adjustment. I'm used to being surrounded by sand."
Svanna simply nods in agreement. Gyrthr takes her hand. "I am glad that you are feeling better though."
She nods, "Yeah...sorry I ran out the other night. I just...I'm not used to being around a lot of people I guess."
"It's fine," Gyrthr says, looking around the street.
Jin stays close to Hitome as they make their way through the streets, trying to figure out where this Szef person was. This place was soooo much larger than the village that they used to go to for shopping and such back home. She had gotten so used to it just being the three of them that she didn't know what to do now. Hitome was okay and seemed sincere in wanting to help her and she really didn't seem to mind what she was....she knew it was going to be hard leaving home, but she suddenly felt like she couldn't breath and stops in the middle of the street to try and catch her breath. She just had to keep putting one foot in front of the other, everything was going to be okay. He wouldn't have sent her if he didn't think she could handle it and that she would be okay and Hitome already said she would always be there for her....so then why was she suddenly so afraid?
Taking in everything as she tries to breath she looks at Hitome, "There's just...there's so many people. This must be a large city." She comments, feeling a little overwhelmed by it all.
"I've heard of larger," Gyrthr says, approaching a tailor's shop. "Here."
He knocks on the door.
Toni groans as she hears the knocking at the door. "I guess I don't get breakfast."
She gets up from the table and opens the door. She is clearly surprised by the half-orc standing there. "Ah, you must be the new Summoners."
She glances behind the half-orc to the others. "Hello. Welcome to Valwick. I'm Toni, the...uh...Szef. Umm...I haven't had breakfast. Could we...perhaps...go get some and get introduced?"
Gyrthr steps back. "I am Gyrthr, Summoner of House Sokolov, and this is my Midwife and wife, Svanna."
"Nice to meet you," Toni says, stepping forward. She smiles at Jin and Hitome. "My Midwife...er...sleeps during the day, so you might meet her later...much later."
Jin gives her a nervous smile and a slight bow, "I'm Jin Kobayashi of House Zakharov, and this is my Midwife Hitome. It is an honor to meet you Szef. I think something to eat would be a good idea...now that we're on solid land again anyways." She says feeling a little more than nervous about this new adventure. She steps back out of the way but stays near Hitome as she prepares to follow the Szef wherever she wished to go.
"Hello, Jin," Toni says. "You too, Hitome. I'm sort of...not from Vesaria...so excuse me if I'm being rude, but are you Jinzhi?"
She nods, "Yes ma'am....I....I just lived near the river a little ways from a small fishing village with Yamamoto-Sensei from the time I was very little. I haven't been around this many people....ever I think. I'm sorry...I just...it's different." She says, not wanting to reveal her true self around so many people.
"It's okay," Toni says. "I only asked because we have a tavern run by a Jinzhi man and I thought you might like it if we had breakfast there."
She seems to smile a bit more, "Ohhh...is that the place by where the ship came in? I smelled something from there...it reminded me of home. It makes sense now, I'd love to try it if it's what you want Szef." She says as she tries to play down her enthusiasm.
Toni nods. "I know what it's like to be in a new place and I'd like you to be as comfortable as possible. Is that alright with you, Gyrthr?"
"I am open to trying new things," Gyrthr replies.
Once again, Svanna merely nods in agreement with her husband.
"My wife does not speak," Gyrthr says. "I thought I should make that clear before too much longer."
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"I understand," Toni says. She makes some motions with her hands toward Svanna.
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Svanna smiles, tears forming in her eyes. She nods and quickly makes some motions with her hands in response.
"You know signs?" Gyrthr asks, slightly amazed.
She just nods and gets a little quiet while staying close to Hitome. The Szef seemed really nice, so maybe things would be alright once she figured out why they were all here and everything.
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"I used to have to communicate with many different people before," Toni says. "I am glad that this language transcends worlds."
She frowns slightly. Those aren't the signs I'm used to...it's like this place has changed how I do things. I also didn't know that much sign language either...I think I need to talk to Hyggindi.
Svanna expresses some concern toward Toni.
"I am alright," Toni says, signing to Svanna. "Let's go eat."
She leads the way through town to the Old Fish. "Ieyasu is a really kind man with a lot of stories if you ask him."
She looks surprised as there is a woman who approaches her.
"Good morning, Szef," the woman says. "I thought I'd meet you and the others. Konstantyná will be along shortly."
Toni chuckles nervously. "Well, I didn't expect this to start so...soon. Umm, Laenid, this is Gyrthr and Svanna of House Sokolov and this is Jin and Hitome of House Zakharov."
Laenid gives a polite bow of her head to the others. "I am Laenid of House Volkov. It is good to meet you."
Returning the bow she says, "It is good to meet you as well."
"I apologize for the suddenness of all this," Laenid says. "I just wanted to get the formalities out of the way. I have had a rough few years."
She nods as she thinks about leaving everything and everyone she had ever known, and the boat ride to get here. She feels a little sick again thinking about it but tries to shut it out as she gives Laenid a nod.
Toni stomach lets out a loud growl. "Let's go inside. Hopefully, Ieyasu has a table big enough for all of us."
She leads the way inside the Old Fish.
"I am sorry, Ieyasu-sensei," a white-haired woman with a tattoo on her jaw says. "It took me some time to build up the courage to face you."
Ieyasu rolls the pommel of the sword in his hand. "It is nothing. The sword played its part. One less thing that I can concern myself with, Mitsuko-kun."
"But the serpentfolk..." Mitsuko interjects.