When Amieko comes in, Lou almost drops a pan of fried rice. he looks a bit embarrassed by the whole thing.
She ahhh... ahe, aked to help, I thought it was a nice jesture.
Lou puts some more dishes together of more traditional dishes.
I'll take these out, and see if the crowds are starting fill in. Oh, by the way, you look nice this fine morning. Lou tries to get a compliment out, but it most likely is ill timed, or just sounds awkward.
Liera nods frantically at Archibald's request, not noticing the rabbit climb down from her shoulder and edge across the bar towards the strange flower, his pink nose twitching curiously. As Speckle stays juuuust out of reach of the plant, the waitress cringes at Datura's words. "We- we get our water from the well," she says meekly, glancing away and twisting her hair around one finger. "It's fresh... we've never had complaints about it before..."
Jin's request cuts through to her, bringing her out of her defensive mode. "Coffee! Of course. I'll go see if he's put any on." With that, she hurries away, leaving her familiar to slowly lean in another inch or so toward the plant.
Heading back into the kitchen, she calls out, "Lou, do we have any coffee on? And I need a mug of..." Her voice trails off as she sees Ameiko, her catlike eyes widening suddenly. "I-I'm sorry!" she explains frantically, noticing the curious expression on the innkeeper's face. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come in early and see if anything needed doing and you don't have to pay me or anything but I needed to get out of the house and..." She wraps a hand in her hair, eyes darting back and forth frantically as she babbles, desperate to avoid confrontation.
Archibald is incensed that someone would leave a rabbit on the table. What went on here in the evenings, a petting zoo?
He reaches out and shoos the little varmit off the bar.
After his shouting match with Shelby, it was customary for him to take a bit of a turn around town. After all, the cards might have said something about a journey. He was going to miss this little town a bit. But it wasn't long before his stomach led him back to the Dragon. There was some sort of strange yet alluring smell emanating from the place as usual.
As he passed through the door, it seemed the place was lively as ever. He saw mostly familiar faces but one or two that seemed out of place. "Good morning all!" he announced gregariously. "It's such a fine day to meet with such fine folks." He wandered through the tables and sat down on the far side of the bar beyond the flower.
He waves Lou over to him and gives a practiced smile. "I'll need the special for sustanance today. It is already a special day and I'm in the mood for something new."
She looks back to Datura. "Hey, bud. Are you okay?"
Datura just keeps his eyes closed, maintaining his breathing, but stops long enough to offer "I'm fine, just Shhh, I need to focus just a little longer."
His anxiety getting the better of him, Datura isn't watching Awd. She has found the prey she smelled, and much like any predator, moves almost unnoticeably closer. She keeps angling her head toward the smell, her petals creeping closed so she can snap at the creature quicker before it can escape.
The owner of the Rusty Dragon looks at Liera with confusion before sighing and walking over to the frightened girl.
"It's okay, I'm not about to bite your head off or anything. I'll have a cup of tea fixed for you in a moment. Much better at waking you up than coffee, trust me."
Ameiko, seeing that Lou is otherwise busy, Ameiko picks up the slack and walks over to Tshilaba and gives him a cock-eyed smile that carries with it just a hint of wickedness.
"The Special, eh? Well then, How hot do you want it?"
Quinta slows a half-step, letting Shelby come up beside her and let's her hips sway in exaggerated fashion, giving the younger priestess a bump as she says, "You're blossoming into a beautiful young woman, there's no shame in that. Besides not all battles are fought with steel. If we can use certain charms to get the agents of the evil gods to lower their guards, then so much the better. Let the others underestimate you if they will. Iomedae knows your strength and she'll give you what you need to do what she has planned."
They arrive at her room and she takes a deep breath then lets it out in a long sigh before going in and continuing the impromptu lesson, "while I can sympathize with you about being treated as less of a warrior, even by those who should know better, because I've been there myself, I have trouble understanding why you try to get others to do good, but not yourself. People need leadership and the best way to lead is to do. Do good, and others will see what you are doing and follow suit. Yes there are those that will still be unrepentant and refuse to see the light no matter what, but that doesn't excuse us from at least setting an example."
The sun is shining in the sky that only has a few white, puffy clouds in it. It's a wonderful day as the two women walk out of the chapel.
"Enough with the lecture for now," Quinta says as she smiles in the warmth of the sun, "Are you going to attend the Swallowtail Festival this year?"
"As hot as it comes" came the quick reply. He was always speaking before he thought. Sometimes it got him into trouble. This might be one of those times. Truthfully, he wasn't even aware what the special was, but it was time to live dangerously. It was a day for new things.
Liera winces at Ameiko's words, but nods. "Alright, Ameiko," she says in a small voice, seeming to relax somewhat. She busies herself with fetching the spiced wine for Archibald, and puts on a pot of coffee for Jin.
"Your drink, sir," she says as she sets the mug in front of the halfling. "And the coffee's on its- Speckle, no!" she interrupts herself in alarm, snatching the rabbit off the bar an instant before he hops into the flower's waiting maw. She clutches the small creature close, glaring the the plant distrustfully. The rabbit, for his part, attempts to scramble free once before giving up.
Her jaw sets and she looks away for a moment, anger flashing in her eyes at the stronger rebuke from the Paladin. Yet, any retort she could come up with sounded weak or childish. She finally sighs, nodding again as she mumbles, "Yes, Mistress. Your words are wise, as always."
The warmth and sunlight sweep away most of her badwill toward the woman, and Shelby instinctively goes into her militaristic stance. She walks with head held high, shoulders back, little sway to her hips, her arms swinging at her sides in opposition to her strides. She turns to regard the older woman. "I am not sure. Any time I go, Koya tries to doll me up like some little tart. I love the Release, and the food, of course. Maybe?" She answers as a question, not knowing if Quinta would like for her to go, or would rather her do something else.
The somewhat mousy server calling out gets Datura's attention from his state, turning to see what must be a pet narrowly pulled from the waiting maw of his pet. "Awdrithicus, Down!" Usually it only takes once, but with what is a fairly common breakfast for her so close by, he resolves to keep an eye on her whenever the server is around.
He explains himself, but doesn't actually apologize, as to him it is just in both the pets' natures to do what they did. "She will want to eat your pet, frequently. It often takes multiple instances of telling her what is and isn't food for her to accept it. Just let me know if your pet is a round, and I will try to keep a sharper eye on her."
Liera nods slightly, still looking warily at the plant. "He usually knows better than to go sniffing at strange things," she offers. "I don't know what got into him."
"Alright, well I'll go check on it. My hands could stand a wash anyways."
She hops off her stool and saunters into the back room.
"Hello!" she calls out. She knew that she could scare Lou sometimes by sneaking up on him, so she had started the habit of shouting when she entered the kitchen. For some reason, it hadn't seemed to help.
Ameiko grins impishly in her customary cock-eyed manner at Tshilaba after the mini crisis of Speckle nearly getting into some trouble.
"Really now? I'll have it out in a minute."
A few more people wander in, mainly travelers and sailors stopping by for a bite before heading on their way. Ameiko returns with some coffee, and a plate of pungently spiced chicken, eggs, and rice.
The clanging of metal and the gentle roar of a forge announce that you've arrived at Savah's. A little bell rings as the door opens and Savah's voice comes from the back of the store.
"Just a minute! Gotta finish one li'l thing." The clanging ceases after a few moments, followed by footsteps, then a crash and a curse. Savah emerges from a doorway leading to the storerooms and the forge that the weapon and armor smith uses. She rubs a patch on her forehead that looks like it's going to leave a vivid bruise. The look of annoyance disappears into a delighted grin as she spies her customers.
"Shelby! Quinta! I'd almost figured ye fergot about me. What brings ye ta me li'l corner o' Sandpoint?"
"It appears that my young charge here has neglected to make sure her armor fits her and not the other way around. I think it's only the padding and the leathers, but the other parts may be in need of adjustment," Quinta answers.
"Roight, that should be easy. If ye two will follow me," Savah says, leading the two Iomedaeans into the back, past a pile of polearms, ("Don't worry, I'll get that mess cleaned in a jiffy!") and into a room with armor stands, tools for leatherworking, mannequins, and all the various tools an armorer would need. Once the door's closed and the curtain's pulled, Savah turns to Shelby and points to the young woman.
"A'roight, off with it," she commands.
Lou looks to Amieko with a smile as she takes the dish, I hope he likes it. By the way, mind if I take a break and have some breakfast myself?
Shelby responds to the large armorer's greeting with a faint smile and nod, as was her norm. She follows the two women to the back nervously. It had been many years since she had had this done, and continuing to put it off only furthered her embarrassment in the present as she starts to unstrap and unhook everything. She is too entrenched in authority to think of declining the request.
The well-polished set of scale mail is gently placed onto the floor over several minutes, followed by the padding and the soft leather beneath. Soon she is standing in the back room of the armory in naught but her small clothes. She resists the urge to cover herself with her arms, standing erect, head held high as the armorer starts to do her work. Her skin flushes as she waits, the pale color blooming a light pink.
"Alright, well I'll go check on it. My hands could stand a wash anyways."
She hops off her stool and saunters into the back room.
"Hello!" she calls out. She knew that she could scare Lou sometimes by sneaking up on him, so she had started the habit of shouting when she entered the kitchen. For some reason, it hadn't seemed to help.
Lou was busy putting together what will be needed for the lunch croud when he nearly sends everything flying at the sudden calling of his name.
spinning around he sees it is Jin. damn you girl, I thought you were Noro for a minute.
I thought she was flirting with me. Ah well. The food here was always unique and the company either interesting or easy to look at or both. How hot could it be?
Liera watches with morbid fascination as Ameiko sets the special in front of the strange man. He'd asked for it hot? The poor fool.
The spices hit you like a slap to the face after the first bite, but as you enjoy the meal, you manage not to have your eyes water nor to break out in a sweat.
Ameiko comes in shortly after Jin scares the daylights out of Lou.
"Well, He must since I don't hear him screaming," she says, "Hello Jin. It's nice to see you up before noon. Speaking of late sleepers, where's Noro?"
"Cripes, goil, when did ye get this? When ye were twelve?" Savah holds up the leather tunic that had just barely covered Shelby's stomach. The heavyset woman sets the old leathers aside and grabs a length of measuring tape and begins to work, talking all the while about armor, swords, spears, and the crossbow that was still in her shop despite her beast efforts to sell the darn thing. After about ten minutes, she steps out of the room, returning with a bundle of clothes.
"I'll have things ready tomorrow. Here," she says as she hands the bundle to Shelby. "put these on. They'll be a lot more comfortable than too-small leathers."
Shelby finds that the bundle she is given consists of a pair of sturdy trousers, a matching vest, a flowing, white tunic, and broad leather belt.
"Ummm..." She had matured early, so she HAD been twelve, best that she could recall. Her hips had been more slender then, and her chest smaller, but she had reached her full height. She stands perfectly still as the woman works, eyes flitting about the room, studying all the weapons and armor as she suffers through it all. She thinks about the tactical advantage of each weapon, and an appropriate tactical response to someone using such a weapon. Each set of armor is assessed based on survivability and mobility.
When all is done, she looks at the bundle of clothes in dismay, waiting a moment to see if it is perhaps a joke. Assuring herself that the woman is all too serious, Shelby sighs and begins to dress, making sure to cinch the belt tight, hoping the pants are looser than they appear to be.
She turns to Quinta as she straps her sword belt around her waist. "Mistress, will we be practicing with blunted weapons today? I don't think it would be safe to practice without my armor on, otherwise."
The effect of the spice was like a punch in the mouth. He might have even deserved it. He fought hard to maintain control, at the very least to instill confidence in his customers. If the fortune teller didn't see that coming, he'd lose business. But then again, he'd already burned the tent. It would be hard to keep up business without a place to do it.
He absentmindedly took another bite, and realized that the second punch wasn't nearly as rough as the first as his palate was becoming used to the heat, either that or it was dead. But he wasn't a doctor, so he didn't really know for sure. His nose was clear now, being shocked into venting the spicy heat in his mouth and suddenly was hit with how good it smelled.
The fortune teller leaned over to the plant sitting next to him and spoke candidly, "This is pretty good. I don't know if I could recommend it to just anyone, but I think I like this. I could even get used to this." He finished his bowl and the rest of his plate, but sat with his mouth open, allowing the heat to escape. He felt like he had just endured an epic ordeal and it meant to give him a greater appreciation of life.
"Speaking of that," she mentions between bites, "I should to lay low for a bit. Have anything that needs doing around the Dragon?"
Ameiko's eyes squeeze shut as she pinches the bridge of her nose.
"You didn't." she states in flat denial.
The clothes were obviously made from someone Shelby's size. The cut is meant to flatter and show off the shape of the person wearing them, and Savah smiles as she looks the young priestess over.
"Looks good on ye. Ye might wanna carry a stave jus' ta keep the lads from gettin' a li'l too friendly, aye?" The tall well-toned weapon smith jests.
At the question, Quinta shakes her head and leads her young charge out as she turns to Savah, "Let us know when their ready and we'll be by to pick them up. I assume it's your usual fee?" Savah nods her head and the sounds of work begin before the two are even back up front.
"Actually, I'd like to have a little time to chat today. It's been a while since Pavanna has been in town, and I'd like to hear more about how things are going with you," Quinta says as she leads Shelby to the Rusty Dragon.
She smiles faintly at the smith's compliment, then responds to her question, either not getting the jest or refusing to acknowledge it. "I suspect the threat of my blade will keep their friendly hands off what does not belong to them."
Shelby cocks her head as they start to walk. Although Quinta was not exactly silent, and had spent days just trying to teach Shelby certain concepts, a day spent just shooting the breeze was quite rare. Still, Shelby would not question her decision, even as it became apparent their destination was the Rusty Dragon. Her foster-sister would be there, and likely the damnable fortune teller, as well.
"I'm not quite sure how to answer that, Mistress. I would never say I am ready to tackle things on my own, but I fear I perhaps lack worldly experience. Perspective, you might say. I feel that I sit here in town, languishing, while the world passes me by. All the while I can't seem to do anything right, strive though I might."
Her brow furrows, her look one of introspection as she continues. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, Mistress. Your lessons are most helpful, both the martial and divine. You are not lacking as a teacher. You lack a proper student. I feel as though I leave you full of knowledge and wisdom, and by the time I return to you it is as though I never heard your words."
She sighs. "I intend friendly comments to my sis, and all I offer are rebukes. I pick fights with poor fools who likely know no better in a pitiful attempt to salvage pride. I attempt to polish my image, only to encounter more laughter than before. Or is there? Am I just expecting it, and seek slights where none exist? I must admit, though I carry on day by day, I am a confused mess right now." Her head is still held up proudly, her eyes forward, her voice strong. As the Rusty Dragon looms, she shakes her head a bit, as if banishing the uncertainty.
"I'll take you up on that too. He smiled at the proprietor, slightly subdued from his earlier exuberance. Tshilaba then spun around in his chair and leaned against the bar. The heat from the food was radiating from his mouth throughout his whole body. The Forge and Survivor cards were working their due diligence today.
"Oh! A drink!" Liera overhears the exchange between Tshilaba and Ameiko, and scurries back into the kitchen to fetch a drink. She nearly bumps into Jin and trips over her own hooves, catching herself at the last moment. "Seems I'm always in the way," she whispers to herself.
Awd just turns toward the 'noise' of the fortune-teller speaking to her. She stares blankly at him, unwavering, before Datura speaks up. "She doesn't understand you. I raised her using the tongue of the fey. It seemed fitting, given her heritage." Datura looks anxious. He came here strictly to try and spend time around Shalelu, yet he is stuck explaining Awd and warning people to keep their limbs clear.
Archibald has spent the last several minutes sampling and commenting on the food to himself. Each dish was well done (the seaweed was particularly surprising), and he relishes each bite even as he prepares the next. It's a halfling's dream come true and not even the commotion around him can break his blissful revelry.
Lou simply smiles a knowing smile at Jin's comment, a past best left alone.
Lou sets some pots on a low simmer for lunch and gathers a tray of the breakfast special. I'll be having a bite to eat if you need me for anything. looking toward Amieko when she is available. Giving her a subtle nod inviting her to join him.
It seemed the waitstaff was testing his fortitude. Every bump on his tongue was calling out for relief, and he had yet to get his cold and sweet as both ladies had gotten distracted. He didn't mean to be a bother so he just waited patiently with his mouth on fire. Normally he only cried while he was drinking, but ever so slowly, he felt his eyes water. One would have thought that the time between finishing the food and now that the pain would have lessened. But it continued on like a dwarf at the bellows.
Vaguely, he heard the guy next to the flower make mention of a language barrier. He cleared his throat and responded. The cards speak their own language too. I don't mind holding a one sided conversation, that actually is most of my day."
Weaving around the mass of bodies in the kitchen, Liera fetches a mug of mead. It wasn't terribly cold, but it was cool enough, and the sweetness would ease the burn.
Nearly tripping over in her haste, she hurries back out with the drink, placing it in front of Tshilaba. "Sorry it took so long," she apologizes, eyes downcast, one hand fiddling with her hair. "If you need another, I can fetch it."
Lou was heading out of the kitchen door when the agile little tiefling zipped around him, mug in hand.
Lou pauses to watch the girl in action, smiling and her joyful antics.
He has a small tray with the breakfast special and he finds a seat to have a bite to eat.
As Liera passes by again. Lou reaches out to grab her and pulls her to a seat beside him.
Liera, slow down, the customers are not going anywhere. He says watching her body language trying to get a read on what she is possibly thinking
also trying to gauge if Liera likes that Varisian man (Tshilaba)
The fortune teller hastily brought the refreshing drink to his lips. Ah, mead! The nectar of the gods! A slight bit spilled out of the side of his mouth as he greedily poured the drought down his throat. He finished the lot of it on one go and turned his appreciative eye on his waitress.
"Sweet deliverer of salvation, I thank you for your pains as well as for your sweet and unobtrusive disposition. As a token of my appreciation, I'd like to offer you a reading when you aren't working. Employers tend to get irate when I do that. But don't be tardy, who knows what the cards will offer in opportunity or warning." He finished his entire spiel and then remembered he didn't have his tent anymore. Secretly he hoped she would decline, otherwise he'd didn't have any idea where he could deal the cards with the right atmosphere.
"You, uh, you spilled some-" Liera begins, but quickly shuts her mouth, simply forcing a smile and a nod, still keeping her eyes on Tshilaba's chin rather than his eyes. At the mention of a reading, she looks up suddenly, meeting his eyes for a brief moment before whipping them away just as suddenly. "Th-that would be nice," she murmurs, fiddling with the lacing on her blouse-sleeves. "I-I'm not actually working now, so maybe soon you could- I mean, if it's no trouble- Or tonight, if you're too busy..." She trails off, as if distracted, before suddenly finishing, "I should see if I'm needed."
On her way back to the kitchen, she yelps as she feels a hand tug at her arm, pulling her into a seat. She stares at Lou in surprise for a moment, before nodding at his words and hanging her head. "I-I just didn't want to keep people waiting," she blushes. "I know I'm not even supposed to be here, but now I feel like I'm in the way."
Having worked with Liera for some time, Lou can tell that the waitress' behaviour isn't anything out of the ordinary - she's always been awkward and timid. She appears to be trying to distract herself from something with her rushing around, though he isn't entirely sure what. As for Tshilaba, it's clear she likes looking at him, but whether it's more than that remains to be seen.
Shortly after Shelby's arrival, Belor and he's second, a grizzled ulfen named Tilo, burst through the door, carrying a familiar elven ranger between them. Shalelu has seen better days, her clothing is covered in soot and soaked with blood, but she's conscious, and uttering a scathing stream of Varisian curses at the entire goblin race.
"Welp, it seems they missed all the vital bits." Tilo grunts.
"Indeed," Belor answers, he looks around and sees all of you standing or walking about, save Lou, who is in the kitchen, "I guess Desna's decided to show us some kindness today, all of you follow me. Ameiko, I'm borrowing one of the private dining rooms."
Once inside the room, Belor and Tilp set Shalelu down.
"Belor! Just get Hannah and Zantus to patch me up! There's no need to involve this gaggle of welps!" Shalelu's anger is evident, through whether it's directed at goblins, Belor, or herself is unclear.
Archibald immidiately abandons his breakfast as soon as Shalelu appears. Shalelu! What befell you, dear beauty! he calls as he worriedly follows the trio into the dining room. What can I do! Shalelu! Shalelu! Are you alright?
Shelby notices the young fortune-teller and rolls her eyes, sighing. This day continued to spiral to new depths. She spies her foster-sister near the man and tries to smile at the woman, the corners of her lips turning up as her guilt consumes her. A warmer smile is given to Jin, along with a friendly nod. She has just taken her seat when the trio burst through the doors.
Seeing the bleeding elf, Shelby's eyes widen and she immediately stands, starting to head toward the commotion. Heeding Hemlock's command, she follows them into the private room, starting to look at Shalelu's wounds and attempting to help bind them.
The young warpriestess suddenly feels vulnerable, her armor at the shop while it seemed as though danger was afoot. She whispers a prayer to the Inheritor under her breath as she works, waiting for Hemlock to start speaking.
Tshilaba smiled as the waitress stammered and went back to the kitchen. She had given him time to come up with a suitable setting for the reading. She also seemed like she was about to start flirting with him, which wasn't a bad thing either. Like most any hot-blooded young male, it really made him feel good. The cards had quite a few things to say about an impending change, but none of them had told them something concerning love. Perhaps after the next thing his readings would change.
And then the next thing came in the door. Shelby walked in with a typical flourish of her eyes. There were tales of the change in attitude of an irate woman into a heated romance, but most of the attempts he had seen in his clan had ended with physical violence. Not that he was afraid, it was just that the risk had to be worth the reward and the fortuneteller still hadn't gotten any proper reading on the lady, as she had shorted him. Fate didn't look kindly on cheapskates. What the cards had told him was that something was likely to change, and it wasn't long before the fruition of that reading came in the door.
Shalelu was carried in with some somewhat superficial wounds. He only assumed superficial, not because he had healing skills, but because he'd seen her in action in the wilderness and he was pretty sure nothing took her unawares out there. She was the reason he even came to this small town and while it was not necessarily profitable here, he had come to enjoy the peaceful nature of the mostly sleepy little berg. It was even cathartic to him.
So, as the case may be, his desire to help out Shalelu and the town had him quickly maneuvering into the other room as to discover what needed to happen. "Fate itself has brought us here. Tell us how we may be of service."
Liera freezes in her seat, staring in wide-eyed fear as the trio bursts through the doors, her own momentary fear of her foster-sister forgotten. She follows obediently, looking over Shalelu's wounds with a practised eye. Speckle follows her, hopping up onto a chair and watching, red eyes fixed on the elf.
"What happened? Was it goblins?" she asks nervously, glancing briefly at everyone else. The halfling was acting far more concerned than anyone else in the room, the fortune-teller was looking at her, and her foster-sister was already binding Shalelu's wounds. She probably doesn't want my help, she thinks, settling for wringing her hands instead.
Lou had finally sat down to enjoy a breakfast when all the commotion started.
Lou simply has the look of Deja-vu in his eyes. He takes a few bites of his meal and then goes to private room,
He looks about the room, some of whom he barely know or not at all, while some he knew too well.
so, should I gather some food? I have some stuff in the kitchen if needed.
As Shelby works, analyzing the wounds, triaging, and working on the most grievous of them first (though none seemed life-threatening), she notices her foster-sister step into the room and start her habit of wringing her hands when anxious. The tall woman is quite aware that Koya has trained Liera in the healing arts as she herself was taught, and her lips compress into a tight line. She could help, yet leaves the work to me. Typical.
Her big brown eyes flit to Tshilaba as he makes his statement, her gaze hard. Ever the showman, even now he sought the attention of the room in this time of uncertainty. A gasp of pain brings her gaze back down to what she is doing.
At Lou's words, she catches his eye and nods at his request. She was starving, and had a feeling her next meal would be some time from now.
Jin follows the others at Belor's command. She had never been one to hop to orders, but she knew the sheriff of Sandpoint was a good man. He'd helped her out of a jam more than once since she had come to the sleepy Varisian town.
Her cheeks burned at Shalelu's comment as her temper flared up. "I am no whelp." she mutters.
Datura's reaction is inconsistent with the scene at first, as he is exhilirated to see Shalelu before he realizes she's injured. When he does make the connection, he becomes instantly angered, at first thinking the two other men are responsible. He manages to get himself under control as they help her through the common room toward one of the private dining rooms.
The man with the title of Sherriff need not even tell him to follow, as he had intended to whether wanted or not, and he tries to help how he can. "Don't crowd her! If you don't have healing, you're not helping!" he barks at the others, but his tone changes when directed at the woman herself, and he becomes somewhat sheepish. "Shalelu. Are you okay? I can offer some Gozreh granted healing if you would like? Who did this?"
Liera flinches back from Datura's words as if physically struck, immediately snapping her head downwards and stumbling back a couple of steps. She attempts to mutter out an apology, but gives up quickly. The rabbit, still perched on a chjair, sniffs the air in the elf's direction, red eyes narrowing slightly.