"Kalchine, I don't have anything suitable in my bags for a proper feast. What kind of clothes do people here wear to such an event? It would seem reasonable to pick up. I've noticed lots of furs and scales, I'd wear a lot of different things potentially I just don't want to show up in something culturally inappropriate. Like I wander in and everyone's chuckling going 'Oh no silly off worlder we only wear that kind of clothes at funerals'." Bulvi spoke with his head tilted back and eyes clothes at the edge of the tub.
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"From what I've seen, they mostly dress like us. Considering this is a whole other planet, things seem remarkably similar to Golarian overall. It's more like just being in a far off country than a different planet. Look how you and Maka picked up their language so quickly -- it really wasn't all that different from ours. I mean, it could have been a complex series of clicks and whistles and burps, or a sign language done with six sets of tentacles and antennae simultaneously, you know? And we can eat their food perfectly normally -- they could have eaten molten sulfur or a sweet mucilaginous paste secreted from protrusions of other creature's bodies or, like, rocks or something."
"I bet all the people in this solar system have a common origin if you go back far enough. Maybe magical migrations thousands and thousands of years ago..." says Quasit as she gets a faraway look in her eyes and waves her hand vaguely at the ceiling.
Then she looks back at Bulvi. "Besides, we're the guests of honor. If we commit a faux pas, they won't embarrass us to our face about it, and they will probably just consider us more interesting and strange. At worst they'll just sneer a little at us behind our backs." She gives Bulvi a nudge with a foot. "You should let Maka braid your hair too."
Selena finishes whatever she was doing in the snow, and makes her way back to the room assigned to her, where she digs out the clothes from that dungeon awhile ago, and picking out the best one starts cleaning it up and tailoring it to her now half-sized form.
When the others arrive back to the room after the bath, they will find clothes, scraps, and such scattered about the beds.
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”Q’s right, Bull, I wouldn’t worry ‘bout it too much. We killed their archenemy, the great and feared Yrax and they’re honoring us; we could likely go naked and they wouldn’t be offended, especially if they drink too much of that swill they brew. I jest, I jest, but I doubt they’re too concerned with what we wear,” Fin conjectures. ”Even so, I’m interested to hear from Kal as well about the particulars of their soirées…please tell me there’s dancing?”
Fin pauses briefly. ”I’ll be wearing my grandfather’s old court outfit that was given me when he passed; that is if Maka doesn’t mind heating it slightly to remove any kinks and wrinkles. It’s the only formal attire I have; it’s made of darkleaf cloth and spider-silk, blended in greens and greys and browns, as you’d expect from wood elves. I haven’t worn it in years,” he says as he thinks back to that time…
”It’s called a cotillion, Kezhia; a country dance held by the gentlemen in the surrounding town,” Fin says as they walk towards the assembly hall. ”A local pub owner that I’ve traded with over the years was kind enough to invite us; and you’ve come along so well with our dance lessons, I thought this would be a good chance for you to meet some respectable and eligible bachelors.” He paused for a moment as he looked at her before continuing. ”And I must say, they will be interested; you look quite stunning in that dress…”
She smiled as she twirled around in it, causing the dress to rise to her knees. ”Do you really think so, Uncle Fin?”
He smiled in return as he said, ”You know me well enough that I would not’ve said so otherwise…”
She looked up at him demurely, with a pleased look. ”Thank you for the dress…and you look quite smart yourself…I’ve never seen you wear that outfit before…it’s so very nice.”
With a misty look to his eyes, Fin nods. ”T’was my grandfather’s left to me upon his death and I’ve never had a reason to wear it for a long time; I haven’t been back at the Elven court for many years now, nor am I likely welcome there anymore…
“We’re almost there…remember your lessons, to include your manners. Now try not to break any hearts!”
She grinned at him and punched him playfully on his shoulder…
The night went well as many young men asked to dance with Kezhia; she danced with several for the first hour or so of the cotillion. Fin was proud as her dancing was excellent and she always remembered to curtsy and thank her partners for the dance. While Fin tried to keep an eye on her, he saw a few women, a couple of them young but not so pretty, and a couple of older widows, that were not as fortunate in having dance partners…so, in turn, he felt obliged to ask them to dance…and he enjoyed it too as he really did love to dance…
Kezhia approached him after he had danced with the last of the widows, a mischievous smile on her face. ”Uncle Fin, you’ve asked all these other women to dance…have you forgotten about me?”
He mock bowed to her, saying, ”A pox upon a clumsy oaf…will you do the honor of dancing with me, m’Lady?”
She curtsied and he led her to the dance floor…and they never left it. It was glorious; he found himself laughing, complimenting her on her dancing, participating in witty repertoire…until he heard them make the call for the last dance…
As they walked back to where the raft was docked, they made small talk about the dance…and until they made it back, he didn’t even realize that she had entertwined her fingers into his, as they had held hands all the way back…
As the boarded the raft, Fin led her to the lean-to. ”Kezhia, you were marvelous tonight…and I’m sorry, I think there were more than a couple young men upset with me for hoarding you by dancing away the last hour or so of the cotillion with you. But at least I hope you met a couple of prospective beaus there…”
She smirked then leaned up to give him a light kiss on his cheek. ”Fin, I’ve already found the one I want to marry,” she said softly and then entered the lean-to…
A stunned Fin stood staring at the lean-to, unsure of what to do, as that was the first time she had dropped her pet title for him. No Uncle? It just cannot be…she needs a steady man, one who can provide her a good future…not a wanderer with no purpose…and an Elf old enough in man-years to be, at the least, her great grandfather…Erastil’s antlers, what am I to do? Staring at the crescent moon, he recalled all the times Kezhia had hinted, teased, and outright asked about him taking her as a wife…but he had always joked, brushed it aside, or talked about long Elven engagements. Maybe he had been kidding himself all along, but this was the the first time that he realized he just might feel the same way…perhaps he had the whole time…
Kezhia was dead a month later…
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Snapping out of the memory, feeling his eyes begin to redden, he quickly submerges his head into the water once more to hide it. Gathering himself before rising back up a moment or so later, he turns to Sakitu and smiles warmly, placing a hand on her knee, giving it a gentle squeeze, taking much more comfort in the present than in the past…
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Sakitu breaks out laughing when Quasit's foot dances in front of her face. She reaches to grab it. "I'm going to tickle that little foot face of yours!"
Sakitu giggles as she misses Quasit's foot and she makes a couple other futile efforts to grab it before giving up. "You guys are all just saying that, about my clothes and stuff. It's not really true. I mean being all pretty and all that. Because, see, if it was true, then I would have had all the guys back home chasing after me. But they never did. Instead, they were always teasing me or talking about me behind my back. And the girls were even worse. No one wanted to be my friend. But that's all in the past now. I have you guys and you are my best friends." She splashes some water in the direction of Quasit and Maka then puts a big hug on Fin.
"Wow! That was so great!" She leans over and kisses him on the cheek. "Everytime you sing you get better and better. Hey! I know, we should tell the people in charge of tonight's feast about you and you can sing your song in front of everyone. It will be great. Right Quasit and Maka? Kalcine, they do that here, right? Like, it would be the best."
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Fin gently shakes his head. ”Like Maka, you are too kind, Hlao-roo…but I usually only sing amongst friends. Not to mention, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to sing a song at a celebration hosted here that the Triaxians wouldn’t understand since I can’t speak their language…I appreciate your sentiments, Saki, but I’m looking more forward to dancing, if there’ll be an opportunity.” He leans over and brushes his lips against hers…
Then turning towards Quasit, with a wry grin, he quips, ”Besides, Nésa here thinks I like my baths too much…and since it now appears she’s more comfortable with public hot baths, I’d hate to scare her away from them by subjecting her to that bath song again…she might never recover…”
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"You guys are all just saying that, about my clothes and stuff. It's not really true. I mean being all pretty and all that. Because, see, if it was true, then I would have had all the guys back home chasing after me. But they never did. Instead, they were always teasing me or talking about me behind my back. And the girls were even worse. No one wanted to be my friend. But that's all in the past now. I have you guys and you are my best friends."
”Well, yeah, but if everyone is an Amazing Fox Person, then it’s not special anymore. That’s not a fair comparison. Here among us mere mortals, we’re dazzled by your Amazing-ness. Besides, from what you’ve told me about your dad, if anyone had tried to kiss you, he would have eaten them like a roast chicken. Screw those other snotty fox girls anyway. If we ever go back to your home, I’ll slap ‘em silly.”
”Besides, N’esa here thinks…she might never recover.”
Quasit holds up her hands to Stop Everything. ”Hold on, what’s a Neesa?”
Like I wander in and everyone's chuckling going 'Oh no silly off worlder we only wear that kind of clothes at funerals'." Bulvi spoke with his head tilted back and eyes clothes at the edge of the tub.
"Oh that's not a big deal. I'm basically never wearing the right clothes. Just be comfortable and pretty."
..It's more like just being in a far off country than a different planet...
Maka's eyes went wide as Quasit pondered the possibilities of alien life. "Oh yeah...wow...because like...wow..."
but I doubt they’re too concerned with what we wear,” Fin conjectures.
"Well I want them to be a little concerned. That's half the fun of dressing up."
Fin pauses briefly. ”I’ll be wearing my grandfather’s old court outfit that was given me when he passed; that is if Maka doesn’t mind heating it slightly to remove any kinks and wrinkles.
"Yeah I can get everyone's clothes ready! If we mix some flour and water together I can get them stiff too."
Sakitu giggles as she misses Quasit's foot and she makes a couple other futile efforts to grab it before giving up. "You guys are all just saying that, about my clothes and stuff. It's not really true. I mean being all pretty and all that. Because, see, if it was true, then I would have had all the guys back home chasing after me. But they never did. Instead, they were always teasing me or talking about me behind my back. And the girls were even worse.
"Saki, you're literally the prettiest girl I've seen on two planets." Now it was Maka's turn for a deadpan response. "And I've seen some pretty girls. Remember that one girl that was so pretty my eyes stopped working? You're prettier than her!" Maka's deadpan didn't last as she worked herself up. "The other girls and boys were intimidated, jealous, or both."
No one wanted to be my friend. But that's all in the past now. I have you guys and you are my best friends." She splashes some water in the direction of Quasit and Maka then puts a big hug on Fin.
With a laugh Maka returned a splash towards Saki. "Best friends forever!"
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”Sorry, Q, sometimes I revert back to Elvish without realizing. Nésa is an affectionate Elvish term for ‘little sister’…”
”Oh. Well, that’s ok then. But I’m warning you, if I find out it’s elvish for ‘pork-fart’ or something, you’re gonna regret it.” she warns with a teasing splash at the elf.
Then she looks back at Bulvi. "Besides, we're the guests of honor. If we commit a faux pas, they won't embarrass us to our face about it, and they will probably just consider us more interesting and strange. At worst they'll just sneer a little at us behind our backs." She gives Bulvi a nudge with a foot. "You should let Maka braid your hair too."
"Quasit, Maka does braid my hair from time to time... and singe it too to 'cut' it though the smell of burnt hair is just awful. Languages are easy at least compared to culture and traditions at least to me." Bulvi sighed.
Sakitu giggles as she misses Quasit's foot and she makes a couple other futile efforts to grab it before giving up. "You guys are all just saying that, about my clothes and stuff. It's not really true. I mean being all pretty and all that. Because, see, if it was true, then I would have had all the guys back home chasing after me. But they never did. Instead, they were always teasing me or talking about me behind my back. And the girls were even worse. No one wanted to be my friend. But that's all in the past now. I have you guys and you are my best friends." She splashes some water in the direction of Quasit and Maka then puts a big hug on Fin.
"The people where you grew up are very strange." Bulvi pauses on nods. "Or perhaps you were strange for there and just found the people you fit with. Which is very lucky for use because without your spells.." Bulvi's face crunches up in a look of distaste.
"While I'm a lot more comfortable in full plate than you'd expect it'd be nice to wear something else to the party I think."
"Quasit, Maka does braid my hair from time to time... and singe it too to 'cut' it though the smell of burnt hair is just awful. Languages are easy at least compared to culture and traditions at least to me." Bulvi sighed.
"It's so much easier and faster than using a razor!" Maka said in a manor that suggested this was not the first time this conversation had been had. "But yeah language is way easier than culture. Especially languages based on dragonic."
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”Oh. Well, that’s ok then. But I’m warning you, if I find out it’s elvish for ‘pork-fart’ or something, you’re gonna regret it.” she warns with a teasing splash at the elf.
Fin laughs as he tries to duck under the splash and fails. Then he suddenly takes on a solemn visage. ”Q, I swear to you I would never call my l’il sis a ‘pork-fart’…maybe a ‘sleep-fart’ though…you be surprised what the keen ears of an elf picks up when he stands guard over his friends for a few hours while they sleep,” he says as he breaks into a mischievous grin followed by a playful wink…
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”Q, I swear to you I would never call my l’il sis a ‘pork-fart’…maybe a ‘sleep-fart’ though…you be surprised what the keen ears of an elf picks up when he stands guard over his friends for a few hours while they sleep,”
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." responds Quasit with all the dignity she can muster.
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"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." responds Quasit with all the dignity she can muster.
Fin can’t keep a straight face and laughs aloud. ”Never fear, Nésa, I kid, I kid. Even if I were to hear such, I’d keep it to myself; just as I would with anything you or the others might reveal when talking in your sleep,” he adds in an impish tone…
"Besides, nothing could be worse than Izzy's sleep farts." Maka said with a laugh. The mention of his name brought a low grumbling growl from the crocodile. "Yeah I'm talking about you!" The fire monk splashed some water at Izzy.
Kalchine's ears droop as Quasit insists that he teach her local dances and Maka looks at him expectantly. "I'll do what I can," he answers quietly.
"Many of the officers are much better dancers. They take pride in it," he said.
"As a military base, most of the people here wear their dress uniforms for anything formal. I'm afraid it's rather boring. They're all basically the same except for some of the hats and decorations and coloring. But some of the auxiliaries who aren't technically soldiers wear other things," he ends hopefully.
He stays largely silent as they chat, just following the conversation. He feels like an outsider with them, not because they're aliens but because they've obviously been through a lot together. It would be strange if he simply fell in place and just became one of them.
But then, he's always been an outsider, so that doesn't make him uncomfortable. He simply observes and interacts when he can.
Kalchine's ears droop as Quasit insists that he teach her local dances and Maka looks at him expectantly. "I'll do what I can," he answers quietly.
"Many of the officers are much better dancers. They take pride in it," he said.
"Are you not an officer? Well, you probably will be now huh?"
"As a military base, most of the people here wear their dress uniforms for anything formal. I'm afraid it's rather boring. They're all basically the same except for some of the hats and decorations and coloring. But some of the auxiliaries who aren't technically soldiers wear other things," he ends hopefully.
"That's probably better for us since we don't have a lot of clothes. Hace and I raided a noble party back in Oppara and boy they had some fancy, fancy clothes." The memory brought a wide smile to Maka's face. This smile slowly faded as Maka fully processed what Kal had said. "Wait!...Do dragonkin wear hats!? Will Chestthumper wear a hat!?"
"Oh. Well. Is it not common for bond partners to be in a relationship? I mean, it's hard for me not to have that sort of relationship just having an emotional or physical bond. I don't know that I couldn't feel that way about someone if we had a mental bond like you have." Maka nervously rubbed the back of her head, worried that she was being rude. "But I know I have an odd view on those sorts of things, even on my own planet."
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"As a military base, most of the people here wear their dress uniforms for anything formal. I'm afraid it's rather boring. They're all basically the same except for some of the hats and decorations and coloring. But some of the auxiliaries who aren't technically soldiers wear other things," he ends hopefully.
Once again, unconsciously, Fin arches an eyebrow. ”Hats while dancing? Interesting as we Elves rarely wear hats for any occasions, if at all. Both the males and females wear them?
“Kal, are there any formalities we need to observe? And is there a particular order to things, i.e., feast first then dancing? Or do they have a cocktail hour to precede everything? Sorry for all the questions, my friend, but just want to try to fit in with the flow of things as best I can. Oh, and one last question…what style of dancing can we expect?”
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“Kal, are there any formalities we need to observe? And is there a particular order to things, i.e., feast first then dancing? Or do they have a cocktail hour to precede everything? Sorry for all the questions, my friend, but just want to try to fit in with the flow of things as best I can. Oh, and one last question…what style of dancing can we expect?”
"Fin, it's not a mission, it's a party. We go there, we see what other people are up to, we join in. And when we get drunk enough, we put lampshades on our heads and dance on the tables."
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"Fin, it's not a mission, it's a party. We go there, we see what other people are up to, we join in. And when we get drunk enough, we put lampshades on our heads and dance on the tables."
"Aye, Q, you're right, I'm overthinking it, as is par for me...but it's been so many years since I've been dancing in this formal of a setting. The ones in Kyonin were grand indeed but each could be unique, depending upon the occasion. There might be an open floor where couples can dance as they wish or it could be more structured, where folk dance in groups, the form of which is identified by the music…
“If it's the latter, I'd just like to know the basics, as I'm sure it's probably different from Golarion, so I could join in without too much ado; I love learning new dances. Not as much as hot baths, as you've aptly noted, but still...
“Either way though, Q, I look forward to seeing you table dance with a lampshade hat…"
"I am a...special operative, I guess would be the best description of my position here," Kalchine says. "I have a rank and I have to obey those of a higher rank and, I guess technically I could give orders to people of a lower rank but I've never really done that and I'm not assigned to a unit."
He smiles, his ears flicking a bit. "Yes, dragonkin wear hats. And yes, you could probably get Chest Thumper to wear a hat. I would not pick one you like, though because he will very likely get tired of it at some point and will likely get bored at another point and figure out some entertaining way to destroy it."
He frowns thoughtfully at Fin's questions. So strange to think about these things when they are just things you usually don't think about.
"Yes, men and women wear hats. The uniforms are generally the same for men and women though cut different to accommodate differences in...shape..."
He nods at Quasit and Fin. "There will be some formality, I'm sure. There will likely be a reception at the beginning, more to let everyone gather before the true events begin than anything else. Then, there may be an awards ceremony for you...us. I don't know if the feast will be a sit down affair but if it is, that will come next. The dancing will be last and if the feast is a buffet then the feast and the dancing will take place at the same time."
His ears flick again with humor. "Is wearing lampshades on your heads a Golarion tradition?"
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Fin smiles. ”Thanks, Kal, appreciate your insight.”
His ears flick again with humor. "Is wearing lampshades on your heads a Golarion tradition?"
A mischievous glint in his eyes, Fin nods and answers. ”Aye, my friend, it is indeed tradition…but one that only manifests itself after Q has been drinking heavily…”
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”Aye, my friend, it is indeed tradition…but one that only manifests itself after Q has been drinking heavily…”
Quasit grins broadly, and a little proudly. "Alas, there's been a lamentable absence of lampshades on our journeys. Findurél is speculating about my sartorial choices while inebriated, but I can't exactly dismiss his premise."
She reaches for a nearby bucket and plunks it onto her head, forcing Maka to drop her half-braided hair. It slips over her eyes and nose, leaving a silly disembodied grin floating beneath.
"Whaddaya think? Is it me?"
He smiles, his ears flicking a bit. "Yes, dragonkin wear hats. And yes, you could probably get Chest Thumper to wear a hat.
Maka's eyes went wide and she looked to be on the verge of crying. "That makes me so happy!"
She reaches for a nearby bucket and plunks it onto her head, forcing Maka to drop her half-braided hair. It slips over her eyes and nose, leaving a silly disembodied grin floating beneath.
"Whaddaya think? Is it me?"
"No!" Maka exclaimed as a bucket interrupted her work. "I'll tellya what's you. Revenge tickles!" With a maniacal laugh she began to tickle Quasit in retaliation.
"I feel like it's very important to check the contents of the bucket before doing that," Kalchine says.
His ears are flicking as he watches the two friends play, however.
"Oh no, I can't stop tickling! I've been cursed by a witch!" Maka managed to get out in between her own fits of laughter and squeals. Water splashed everyone nearby as the two flopped about.
Kalchine sits more alert at that, the smile fading and his ears just going up.
He looks at the others to see their reactions.
They are dealing with a witch, after all...
As Quasit squirmed free Maka turned her sights on Saki. The monk's nimble fingers finding the soft spots in between the kitsune's ribs and tickling away. "Agh...the...curse!" Maka wheezed out, the laughter leaving her out of breath.
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Fin nods. ”I believe you. You can’t read too much into that stuff any way…other than I do think Bull must’ve wanted a pony when he was a young ‘un…”
"What makes you think I still don't want a pony?" Bulvi responded glibly without opening his eyes, he did scrunch up his forehead a little when the girls started goofing around and tickling each other.
He sighed. "From dragon slaying to tickle fights... I don't think this part will make it into many stories either." ...but his lips slowly curved upwards into a smile.
He sighed. "From dragon slaying to tickle fights... I don't think this part will make it into many stories either." ...but his lips slowly curved upwards into a smile.
"The curse...it can only be broken by a kiss!" Maka dramatically waved one arm towards Bulvi while still tickling Saki with the other.
"Close friendship and comraderie between bond-mates is almost universal, but going beyond that is viewed as improper," he rumbles. "It is... something of a negative stereotype among civilians, that riders and dragonkin become romantically engaged."
"Close friendship and comraderie between bond-mates is almost universal, but going beyond that is viewed as improper," he rumbles. "It is... something of a negative stereotype among civilians, that riders and dragonkin become romantically engaged."
Maka's eye's went wide with excitement as her face puffed up in annoyance. "Improper huh? I've had love that other people thought was 'improper'... Maka tried to articulate a thought before giving up and blowing a raspberry. While it best conveyed her own emotions, the action might not mean much to the dragonkin. "It's hard."
"I don't know anything about stereotypes here, but I think if you had feelings for Bescayle, if you wanted more than camaraderie, I think that would be a good thing." Maka gave Efrixes a supportive pat on the shoulder. "I mean, if you both like each other and you aren't hurting anyone, what's actually improper?"
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Fin laughs aloud while watching Maka tickle Quasit; with all they’ve been thru, it feels good to laugh and relax for a little while before they have to get back to it…
Kalchine sits more alert at that, the smile fading and his ears just going up.
He looks at the others to see their reactions.
Catching Kalchine’s reaction, he grins, saying, ”She’s joking, Kal, there’s neither a witch nor a curse, my friend…”
"What makes you think I still don't want a pony?"
Fin smiles. ”Because now you’ve got a flying Mistress of Fire, my friend…definitely an upgrade from a pony…
“No pony for me though; in my childhood, I wanted an official Red Raven flex-pull action multi-shot composite air bow…t’was the best Midsummer’s Night Eve gift ever…”
As Quasit squirmed free Maka turned her sights on Saki. The monk's nimble fingers finding the soft spots in between the kitsune's ribs and tickling away. "Agh...the...curse!" Maka wheezed out, the laughter leaving her out of breath.
”Tickle her back, Hlao-roo,” chortled Fin…
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Quasit scrambles out of the bath and catches her breath.
"All right guys, that's enough bathing for me. I'm gonna head back to our room."
She throws on the robe, scoops up that deerskin and soap and her backpack, then makes her way back behind the screen. There she slips out of her linen shift and throws on clean undergarments, her blue homespun dress and slippers. She wrings out her linen as best she can, then wraps all the wet things in her robe and carries it under one arm while hoisting her backpack with the other, then leaves the bathing area.
On her return to the room, she hangs up her wet things to dry, then slips into her bed for a quick nap before the festivities.
Quasit finds her bed has scraps all over it, laid out in various ways and patterns, as Selena is clearly working on a gown. Most of the scraps look good, but a few of them remind you where these clothes were found.
"Done with boiling yourself?" Selena asks as Quasit returns.
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Taking his queue from Q that it’s time to prepare for the feast, Fin sighs sadly, loathe to leave the hot bath. ”Although I’d rather tarry here longer, Hlao-roo, I’m sufficiently shriveled like a prune for now…I’m gonna go back and get dressed for the celebration, perhaps practice my dance moves, I might be rusty. Do you want to go back with me or stay and play with Maka? C’mon, Izzy, bathtime’s over…there’s a good croc…”
Fin rises from the pool, dries off, wrapping a towel around his waist, gathers his wet clothes, and heads back to the room. He hangs up his damp clothes, along with the towel, before going thru his backpack; he retrieves some clean undergarments, dons them, and lays out his grandfather’s court outfit, awaiting Maka to heat out any kinks or wrinkles. As he awaits, Fin quietly goes thru some of the stretches Maka taught him in training sessions; he tries to mentally recall the different dance forms he had learned back in Kyonin and incorporate some of them into his stretches…
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Sakitu breaks into laughter and dodges out of the way of Quasit's flailing legs and arms but she is unable to avoid Maka's fingers.
”Tickle her back, Hlao-roo,” chortled Fin
"Oh... good... idea..." Sakitu replies between grunts and stifled giggles as she tries to squirm away. She swishes through the water to try to get behind Maka and then, standing up, she reaches for the tender spot at the corner of Maka's neck and shoulder with wriggling fingers. "Got you now!"
Kalchine lingers for a bit in the water, being the last one to leave.
That turns out to be a mistake as he goes down to the stables where Chest Thumper has a stall and has long ago made a nest after getting ready for the festivities.
"How are you already dirty!" he shouts at the frost ape.
He mutters curses as he takes up the brush and starts the process of grooming his brother all over again.