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Bulvi had not been holding back while sparing, he had seen Maka in a few fights now and new she could handle herself so going easy on her wouldn't have much of a point. She wasn't focusing and he wasn't going to let such a teachable moment go by and set her tumbling into the snow.
Looking down at her he offered a hand up, she was an odd one here with her glowing eyes and other strange features. He was the only member of their group that fit in quite well appearance wise in this land but she was quite singular. The look she gave him as she grinned at him... there was something in her demeanor that had changed.
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She hesitates for a moment. "Well, I just. Well, I wanted to see what was out here. People would come to visit my dad and they were so interesting. But my mom wouldn't let me talk to them. I guess my parents were just trying to protect me." An earnestness comes into her eyes. "I just wanted to see what there was."
She shuffles on the seat and holds a hand out to Quasit. She glances at Fin trying to judge what he thinks of her now that her secret is out. "I made plans with my parents so that they would send me to my aunt's ancestral home in Tian Xia. I was going to spend a year there. I don't know if they've figure out yet that I'm not there. I know I'll be in big trouble when they do."
"Well, I imagine your aunt must be disappointed at least, but I'd say at this point you have a pretty decent excuse you can give." says Quasit breezily.
"But taking off on your own -- that's gutsy. The road can be a lonely place. Trust me I know. I ran away from my mom when I was 16. And we were out in the middle of Varisia. Have you ever been to Varisia? Trackless grasslands and mountains in all directions for hundreds of miles, almost no towns. And the people I did run into? Most of them -- not so nice. I didn't even know where I was going. I had some vague idea about heading to the coast and getting a ship, but I didn't know exactly where that was or how far away it was. I nearly starved."
"But you know what? I'm still glad I did it. Trailing around that miserable gypsy caravan, washing underwear and cooking garbage for a bunch of dirty vagrants? That was no life. My mom was all ready to marry me off to some tinker twice my age just to get me out of her sight. But more than that -- life it meant to be lived, even if it kills you. You know?"
"I suppose that's the one thing I get from my mother. Neither of us was willing to just sit around in a life that was making us unhappy. I don't know. Maybe that makes me selfish. A girl is supposed to just accept what life gives her -- marry who your parents tell you to, do what your husband tells you to, live where he tells you to, have all the kids he makes you have, raise them. I don't know why, but that sort of life... it just horrifies me for some reason. I can't do it."
"So instead I'm fighting witches in Irrissen I guess. Life is certainly unpredictable."
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Fin nods in empathy. "In a way, I too felt a need to get away and see what's out here, Sakitu. My most excellent father died young, for an Elf any ways...about the time I came of age. My mother was devastated, suffered from the longing, and set sail across the sea in her grief. My father hailed from the deserts of Osirion and made his mark there...basically having no family now, I decided to go to the opposite extreme to forget as I could, so I made my way here...and now our little party here is the closest thing I have to family..."
He looks off pausing for a moment before continuing. "We'll eventually get through all the ice and witches...and when we do, I'll make sure you get to your aunt in Tian Xia in one piece..."
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Sakitu wrinkles her nose. "Gross. You had to wash someone else's underwear. Uhg! But you know what this means? We're the same, kind of. I mean, it makes me feel a little bad. You ran away because things were really bad. But for me everything was good but I just ran away anyway." She pauses to think about that for a moment. "Do you think your mom cares that you ran away? I try not to think about it, but when my parents figure it out, they will be really mad and probably scared."
Sakitu looks up when Fin replies. "Really? You ran away too? Did all of us?" Her face brightens when Fin and Quasit mention travelling to Tian Xia. "Oh! I would love to introduce you to my aunt. You would both love her. I've only met her a few times. She would visit us in Absolom. But she's amazing."
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Sakitu wrinkles her nose. "Gross. You had to wash someone else's underwear. Uhg! But you know what this means? We're the same, kind of. I mean, it makes me feel a little bad. You ran away because things were really bad. But for me everything was good but I just ran away anyway." She pauses to think about that for a moment. "Do you think your mom cares that you ran away? I try not to think about it, but when my parents figure it out, they will be really mad and probably scared."
"Cares that I ran away? You know, I used to fantasize about that moment a lot while I was wandering the long empty roads of Varisia -- when did she figure out I was really gone, and how did she react? Knowing her, at first she took it as a personal affront that I would dare run off, because everything in the world is principally about her. She probably roused up a flock of gypsies to go look for me, just so she could have the satisfaction of yelling at me. But after a week or so, her main regret would have been that I wasn't around to do chores for her any more."
Quasit chuckles good-naturedly at this, then shrugs. "I guess it was more complicated than that of course. I mean, she's my mom, I'm her daughter. We love each other. In a way I miss her too, and I'm sure she misses me. She's not evil or anything. And I know for a fact I was a handful, especially once I hit about 14 years old. I sometimes wonder why she didn't murder me in my sleep for some of the things I did to her."
"But I definitely don't regret leaving. And like I said, she was getting ready to marry me off, so she was ready for me to go too. Just on her terms, not mine. I wonder what she told the tinker?"
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"Married? Wow. I can't imagine you being married."
Quasit's mouth drops open in mock outrage. "Ah! That's nice! 'Oh, that Quasit, she's NOT the marrying kind!' And here I thought we were friends!" She gives Sakitu a joshing shove.
”No, I cannot...while I’m sure Q would have no problem finding a husband if she so wished, I doubt there’s a man that can settle her down, at least right now. I take it this tinker was not a half-Orc, Q?”
Quasit rolls her eyes but she's grinning ear to ear. "I never should have told you guys the half-orc thing. That's *only* when I'm drunk." To emphasize the point, she throws a chunk of bread at Findurel. "As far as the tinker goes, he was just another broken-down Varisian. I don't even remember his name, I only met him a couple times. He was twice my age and was looking for someone to take care of him. I think his first wife had just died or something. And my quote-unquote stepdad figured I'd be the perfect solution to his problem. You have to understand, this sort of thing is drearily common with Varisians -- when you live a sort of tribal nomadic existence, daughters are often used to cement or establish clan bonds, and the daughter pretty much never gets a say in the matter. Which is probably why all the gypsy songs are about wildcat women pining for their lovers."
"The thing that sticks in my craw is that my mother should have known better. She's Varisian, but she didn't let herself get trapped that way. She married my dad. And then she ran off with another man when it struck her fancy to. But she was ready to let me be bartered away like a second-hand nanny goat for a discount on pots and pans. And remember, I was SIXTEEN! I was just a kid! My life would have been over before it started. Barefoot and pregnant at 17 sitting in the back of crummy tinker wagon darning socks. Makes my skin crawl just thinking of it."
"But again, I'd like to emphasize--" she says with faux gravity, leaning in to get her face and Sakitu's very close together. "--that doesn't mean I wouldn't make a charming and loving bride who would make some weak-willed man very happy someday. As long as he's rich and handsome and kind, I'm sure I'd be a marvelous wife."
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Fin reacts quickly, moving his head agilely to catch the bread Quasit threw in his mouth, and then downing it along with a swig of ale.
"No worries, girl...your thing for green-skinned lads is no worse than my thing for pointy-eared women. But you're spot on, Q...may be cold and dangerous up here, but at least it's not boring... you'd have likely died of boredom had you married the old tinker..."
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Sakitu tries, and succeeds for only a few moments, to hold a serious face against Quasit's. Then she breaks into more giggles and leans back. "You are so funny. Of course you'll be a great wife when you find the right man." She turns a sly look at Fin and reaches a hand up to her fox-like ears. "Hey Fin, I have pointy ears," she says teasingly. "Maybe we can get married. That is, if Honey Rabbit doesn't snatch me up first."
"Speaking of Bulvi, those two have been outside for a while now. Think they've killed each other yet?"
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Fin blushes furiously as Sakitu points out her ears, stammering, "...indeed...you do..." The Elf then takes a long drink to try to hide the redness covering the entirety of his face...
With the subject changed to Bulvi and Maka, Fin regains his composure, answering, "Highly likely...those two appear to be cut from the same cloth."
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" But you're spot on, Q...may be cold and dangerous up here, but at least it's not boring... you'd have likely died of boredom had you married the old tinker..."
"Someone would have died." says Quasit with a sideways glance and smirk.
"You are so funny. Of course you'll be a great wife when you find the right man."
Quasit looks back at Sakitu. She's still smiling, but there's a trace of something else there. Wistfulness maybe.
"I had the right man. And I screwed it up." she says simply with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "But maybe Ill get lucky."
"Speaking of Bulvi, those two have been outside for a while now. Think they've killed each other yet?"
"I dunno. How long does it take a fire-fisted monk to beat the snot out of an Ulfen?" says Quasit. "Maybe Hace should take a look and see if anyone needs healing." She reaches her arms up over her head and gives a long feline stretch. "Personally, I'm not putting my boots on again tonight unless I absolutely have to."
"I dunno. How long does it take a fire-fisted monk to beat the snot out of an Ulfen?" says Quasit. "Maybe Hace should take a look and see if anyone needs healing." She reaches her arms up over her head and gives a long feline stretch. "Personally, I'm not putting my boots on again tonight unless I absolutely have to."
A satisfied looking Maka entered with a stretch an a yawn that almost sounded like a growl. "Actually Bulvi won the spar, but I won the naked spar." She replied to Quasit with a toothy grin. Plopping down in front of the fire, Maka gave Issy some chin scratches before undoing her long braid and began to comb it. "Mr...Nadya's Uncle, do you have a bathtub? That would really top the night off."
"Well yeah, the cold doesn't bother me and I kept Bulvi plenty warm. Plus my other friends were always weird about doing it around others." Maka replied. Despite all of her travels, she still wasn't used to the Inner Sea's views on sex. She left out the part about there being less things to accidentally burn down outside. "You've mentioned wanting to become a monk before. You should join us in the next spar, I'll teach you how to properly punch someone in the face. Sakitu you should as well, with your teeth you'd be great in a grapple if you learned how to work the kidneys."
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Sakitu doesn't quite understand what Maki is talking about with the sparring, especially the naked sparring. She is grateful when the conversation moves on to talking about fighting. "You mean I should learn how to be like you? I can already bite things. Why do I need special training in that?" Sakitu looks puzzled.
"No, you should be like you. I mean with your teeth you've got an advantage. You could bite an arm, hold the other arm, and still have a hand free to pummel your opponent." Maka mimicked the actions as she described them. "Although it's probably better to focus on defensive techniques and let your magic handle the pummeling."
Bulvi stops at Quasits pointed question as he came in... his armour came with a few straps so was a little behind. "The face, it threw her off balance." He was begining to blush a little.
Not knowing Maka had been so blunt wasn't sure how much Quasit suspected. The whole thing had caught him off guard and he was trying to gather himself.
Maka riled at Quasit's laughter, assuming it was due to Maka's fighting performance. Her mouth began to form in to a snarl before she took a breath to calm herself. "It's true, I let my guard down and took his sword full in the face. I still have the taste in my mouth." Maka smacked at the lingering taste of blood before taking a drink from her magic jug.
Hmm Makas playing it close to her chest, Quasit is just playing at innuendo for its own sake. Bulbi shakes his head "How much have you had to drink?"
"Quasit wears the cloak, talks us in, we give people food, beat up some witches, then find the hut." Maka stated with a confidence that it would be as easy as saying. "Oh and we get some paper."
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"I didn't realize that she had mentioned that part." Bulvi's cheeks go a shade darker but he maintains eye contact and shrugs. "I've been stabbed and fought Fey non our fools errand. If a beautiful woman shows interest, why wouldn't I reciprocate." Best to just to tackle Quasit head on or she'll be making non stop comments for a month.
"We should have a back up plan in case we are rumbled. Anyone have any spell or abilities that might help? More refined ones than stab them with blades and feather them with arrows?"
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"I didn't realize that she had mentioned that part." Bulvi's cheeks go a shade darker but he maintains eye contact and shrugs. "I've been stabbed and fought Fey non our fools errand. If a beautiful woman shows interest, why wouldn't I reciprocate."
Quasit holds up her hands. "Hey, absolutely, what you do with your sword is your business." She pushes the bottle toward him again. "I'm just ribbing you a bit. No hard feelings, k?"
"We should have a back up plan in case we are rumbled. Anyone have any spell or abilities that might help? More refined ones than stab them with blades and feather them with arrows?"
Quasit gets a bit more serious.
"Well, we have this new wand that makes your hands sticky." she says, thinking out loud. "If we can't get through the Howlings Gate, one of us might be able to use the wand to scale over the walls of the city and sneak off to the guy who does the forgeries. We could get the papers, the person could sneak back out over the wall, and then we go through the main gate as Stilyagi merchants, all legit."
"I know you're only messing with me a little but with your mischievious nature if I show weakness you'd never stop going on about it." Bulvi takes a swig.
"I'd disagree with you Fin. I can only imagine but I suspect most would find it hard to spot you during the daylight but the wolf things I am concerned about. I'd wager they see better in the dark than you too."
Fin shrugs. ”I do not fear the wolf things...they do not climb well and I’ll be traveling by the high road, via rooftops among the shadows, till I find Ringeirr’s contact...”
"But what if they jump really well? Plus why do you get to have all the fun? I want to fight ice wolves on roof tops." Maka's focus faded as she daydreamed of epic battles. This lasted momentarily before she shook the dreams from her head. "No, it's more important we fight the witches. We should stick together."
"So social deception, if that fails sneaking but if that fails copious violence... I'd prefer more refined plans but they require details we lack."
"I suppose for Plan C, we can just throw Maka at them. She can punch, burn and Lanaat Hai them to death." says Quasit as she gets up from the comfy couch to grab a hunk of bread from the table. "Man, I missed fresh-baked bread." she muses to no one in particular.
"Death by Lanat Hai?" Maka took a moment to think about that. "Ohhhh now I understand the 'too much of a good thing' saying." She finally said with a laugh.
The warmth of companions and physical exertion hangs over the hut like a thick fur. Though the sound of the cutting wind can still be heard beyond the shelter of the hut, the clinging dark of the coming night calls the unseasonably ravaged land to rest.
Hace makes his preparations for his divination spell and then makes himself comfortable for a warm nights rest, "Perhaps the morning will bring some clarity to the tangled way ahead."
Ringeirr describes his intention to bring a cart of fish to those in need. "Not only will the fish bring some much needed meat to those most impacted by the harsh hand which holds tightly to Whitethrone and its people, but the cart could serve to hide some of your heavier gear as we make way through the gate. Think on it. No need to decide until morning."
With that Ringeirr follows Hace's example and settles in for a nights rest.
"Might be worth trying if sneaking past the wolves doesn't work... which it might well not." Bulvi shrugs.
With a wide stretch, Maka let loose a yawn that approached a roar. "Yeah I am pretty tired." Undoing her long braid, Maka began to comb her hair in preparation for bed.
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"We aren't going to sneak past the wolves. We're going to walk past them. Because you're going to pay a bribe to get your fish into the city. To one of the wolves. Who will just happen to be me." says Quasit.
"This'll be perfect. We'll hide all the weapons under the fish, like Ringeirr says. I'll use the magic wolf cloak to look like one of them. And then when we walk up there to the wolf gate first thing in the morning, I'll make it clear you've bribed me to get you in so you can get your wares to the market before the competition. They'll understand that -- it's just the sort of seedy corrupt thing people do the world over. And I'll make it clear that I'm taking a cut of your profits and so I don't want any delays. And if they kick up any fuss, a little token payoff should get them off our backs."
"The main thing is that everyone needs to keep cool and let me do the talking. If this doesn't work, we don't argue or try to fight our way past. We just turn around and leave. Right?"
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As Quasit settles down on her belly in her bedroll next to the fire, she rests her chin on her fingers and looks into the sizzling embers, her dark eyes reflecting the light. For a long time she doesn't say anything... maybe she's waiting for everyone else to fall asleep. But eventually she pipes up. Naturally she's right next to Sakitu.
"Saki... are you awake?" she whispers.
"Right, let you do all of the talking, I like that plan. Okay, night everyone." Maka snuggled in with Hace and Izzy. Cozily at first, but the large woman was soon sprawled out, emitting a low, rumbling snore the group had come to expect.
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Come morning everyone wakes rested. Maka is the first to notice Hace is no longer where he was sleeping. Further, Izzy has moved toward the threshold of the hut and all spot quickly the scroll case hastily Tangled in the creatures sweater just at the base of it's neck.