”Yes.” Toska bluntly states. ”Their leader sees the summoners as a threat to his power... whatever that means. Not anything pleasant. They’ve already tried to kill me before I came to this land.”
When she says they should listen to Drago and Barclay he gives a resigned nod. His response to her suggestion is immediate as she finishes. ”Absolutely not. I’m not opposed to this ending peacefully, but I’m against risking people on an outcome so slim.”
She tilts her head to the side as she regards him for a moment, "You say you're not opposed to things ending peacefully, but then why are you so against someone helping that stands the greatest chance of accomplishing it? What makes you think the odds are so slim? I understand that them trying to kill you before could make you feel this way, but don't you think you're being just a wee bit overly dramatic about it?" She asks, unsure as to what his actual motives were. If he didn't want to listen to her about it, she would talk to Toni herself. Toni knew Arista well enough to know if she would want her involved in the situation or not. This guy might have had previous experience with those other guys and everything, but he didn't know Arista.
”Why I am against sending a pregnant women into hostile territory? Hmm, let’s see. We’ve already killed one of them so not off on the right foot there. They think the Summoners are a threat to their power, which sound like paranoid delusions, so probably not the most reasonable people either. And they’re warping the land with magic to make it more hospitable to their master.” he explains, his face and tone staying flat.
Rajni backs up in her seat and puts her hands up, "Okay okay....you know, you sound a little paranoid yourself. Not to be rude or anything, but you don't know Arista either. I thought you were just supposed to see what they were up to anyways? Why did you attack them?"
Looking down at her hands she says a little more softly, "You shouldn't let the experiences of your past, dictate your future Toska."
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”Is it still paranoia when they are actually after you?” Toska asks with a bit of a smirk.
”We were on edge, we had already been attacked by a giant serpent that was guarding a magical crystal. After that we came along a watch tower and left it to our instincts I suppose.” he continues, head tilting this way and that as he tries to think on the events.
Blinking he focuses his eyes back on the Fetchling. ”Arista is who you wish to send? Why are you so sure her presence will produce a good outcome?”
Looking down at her hands she says a little more softly, "You shouldn't let the experiences of your past, dictate your future Toska."
”It was a few months ago, and they belong to the same group.”
She gives him a reassuring smile, "She's very....unique. While her hormones might make her a little scary sometimes, she's already a mom and she just...she has this way of talking to people and she's good at keeping situations from....escalating. She's really hard to explain if you don't know her though. She's someone you just have to kind of....experience. They don't call her the exploding box of rainbows for nothing though."
Sighing she looks at him. Perhaps he did have reason to be afraid, but she couldn't let anything happen that would threaten their home. If these guys were that worried about the summoners, maybe this was something she should talk to Toni about. It was the summoners who betrayed Blackcrown to the dragons in the first place. She remembered that part of the stories that Toni had told her.
Putting a comforting hand on one of his she says, "This isn't something you guys have to face alone. There are people in this town that can help you, so let them. Arista is very capable and I think she's been itching for an excuse to get away for a little bit anyways. She isn't very good at the whole sitting still thing, but she is VERY good at talking to people. I....I didn't really like her that much when I first met her. She can be kinda bossy and she told me some things I didn't want to hear, but it was the truth and I've come to accept it. If she can get me to listen....she can get anyone to listen, and it's a hell of a lot better than going in there with a pessimistic attitude. Blackcrown is the summoners home, and I believe you will all take it back with Toni's guidance....but you can't just go swinging a sword at every problem that comes up. Everything will be okay, I'm sure of it." She says, withdrawing her hand and giving him time to digest what she says as she waits for her tea and snack.
She nods, "I'm sorry for what you've been through, but this Valwick and we have certain ways of dealing with people that try to bring trouble to our town. I'm sure Barclay isn't doing anything blindly, and will take the necessary precautions to protect this town and the people in it."
Sighing a little she asks, "Were you hungry or anything? You look like you could at least use a drink and maybe something good to eat."
Toska continues to sit and listen as Rajni speaks, making an obvious note when she puts her hand on his. ”She sounds fun, and seems to leave an effect. But what if she can’t? You wanting her to influence this ‘master’ and her actually being able to are two very different things. ‘Everything will be okay, I’m sure of it’ you say? That’s an assumption you are having. This isn’t fun outing out on the town for drinks.”
Rajni sighs, this was going to be more difficult than she thought.
Shaking her head she says, "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make light of a serious situation, but it sounds to me like you're making plenty assumptions of your own."
She nods, "I'm sorry for what you've been through, but this Valwick and we have certain ways of dealing with people that try to bring trouble to our town. I'm sure Barclay isn't doing anything blindly, and will take the necessary precautions to protect this town and the people in it."
Sighing a little she asks, "Were you hungry or anything? You look like you could at least use a drink and maybe something good to eat."
”Such as locking people up and then promptly releasing them a few hours later.” he says, then lightly chuckles.
He blinks, thinking, before looking down. ”No... not really. Too much to think about, maybe breakfast will be better. Probably not a good idea for me to drink anything either.”
Ieyasu brings Rajni's tea and dorayaki to her then looks at the duskwalker. "Can I get you something?"
Rajni sighs, this was going to be more difficult than she thought.
Shaking her head she says, "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make light of a serious situation, but it sounds to me like you're making plenty assumptions of your own."
”More or less than you are?”
Ieyasu brings Rajni's tea and dorayaki to her then looks at the duskwalker. "Can I get you something?"
”Sorry. Something light, please.” he says apologetically to the man.
Ieyasu nods, fairly sure that adding his own counsel to Rajni and the duskwalker's discussion would be fruitless. "I shall return."
A haughty-looking man walks into the restaurant and sits down, giving Toska and Rajni a polite nod.
Rajni nods at Ieyasu before looking back at Toska, "You're assuming that they're just gonna wanna fight regardless, and I'm hoping that they can be talked into a more reasonable solution. At least until you can get back to Blackcrown. I don't think that what I'm suggesting is unreasonable, but it should be left up to the leaders of this town and Toni. You're new here and you don't know these people the way that I do. They are more capable than you give them credit for." His mind already seemed made up, so she would have to go to Toni and talk to her instead. She didn't see any point in arguing with someone that didn't want to be reasoned with.
Rubbing her temples slightly she says, "You would probably feel better if you got something to eat and drink. I'm fairly certain you've been through enough for one day. It's hard for me to really explain to you why I feel the way I do about Arista and the other people that live here, and why I feel they are as capable as I say they are."
Looking around she lowers her voice slightly, "I was raised by a Demon Lord who had grown very very powerful. Arista and her companions killed him. They've done a lot to ensure the safety of everyone in the last little while. Arista is dedicated to helping others and would do anything to ensure the safety of those she loves, and she is far from helpless."
Looking over at the newcomer, Rajni gives him a nod of recognition as well. She really didn't know what else to say to Toska, especially if his mind was already made up. She couldn't let someone bent on revenge, endanger her town or family though.
Ieyasu brings Toska some tea, a small salad and some soup. "Anything else for either of you?"
Giving Ieyasu a grateful nod she says, "No thank you Ieyasu. This tea and these bean paste thingies are good enough for me. Unless you have some leftover boiled chicken in the back for Shar, but if not I can feed her when I get home."
Shar just lays on floor at Rajni's feet and looks up at Ieyasu.
Ieyasu smiles at the cat. "I will see if I have something that would satisfy you."
He heads back to the kitchen.
Shamara purrs.
Toska nods politely back at the man in reflex.
”What evidence do you have that they would be open to talks for a solution?” he asks. ”You keep talking about how capable everyone here is, but they wont be talking to themselves or a wall. They’ll be talking with other people. It doesn’t matter how capable they are if the other side doesn’t want to bargain.”
As she goes on he arches brow. ”That’s impressive, so she could definitely hold her own. But that has little to do with talking, does it not? Unless you were hoping she’d simply threaten them into compliance.”
When Ieyasu brings out the refreshments Toska gives him a grateful smile. ”Thank you, this’ll be all I’ll ask.” Starting with the soup he quietly takes a shallow sip.
Rajni just sighs and shakes her head, talking to a wall would get more results than talking to this one.
"She HAS talked with other people. She talked down a whole group of people intent on a fight that were being controlled by others. You have no idea what you're talking about or what they've accomplished. It is only something that can be experienced not explained. Since you have already decided that there can be no peaceful resolution, there's really no point in continuing this line of conversation is there? You act like you already know what's going to happen, you don't know anymore than I do. Just...don't worry about it. I'll talk to Toni and see what she thinks." Finally getting frustrated and tired of trying to talk to someone that seems intent on seeing trouble, Rajni just shuts her mouth and concentrates on her tea and snack. She would talk to someone with a little more common sense and less of a grudge.
Sensing her mistress's distress, Shamara gets up and rubs against Rajni's legs to calm her.
Ieyasu returns with some scraps of beef and sets them before Rajni's companion. "Here you go."
He then sighs at the two. "I can see that things change very little over the years. Rajni, you believe that there is something to gain from talking. Duskwalker, you think that the only lasting solution is violence. Only a fool believes there are only two outcomes. You must think. Who is your enemy? Who do they serve? Themselves or a higher power? You may not broker peace between you and your enemy, but you can always create conflict between your enemy and another party. Especially if they are self-serving."
He shrugs. "But what do I know? I'm just an old man."
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Being from Jin Zhao, Toska recognizes the proprietor as a former war hero who ended the dreaded war between the oni and the Jinzhi.
The haughty man raises a hand to get Ieyasu's attention. "May I have a drink for my misery, old man?"
Toska keeps to his soup as Rajni keeps talking to him, once she finishes he put his spoon down. ”You’re right I have no idea what they’ve accomplished... because I have no idea who they area and you’ve only just now started to give examples. You could explain things perfectly fine, I’m sorry but I won't take your fawning as a reassurance over someone I know nothing about. I’m acting on what I know. What do you know about he Kurokaze and their master? You seem assured that Arista being Arista just talking with them will without a shadow of doubt lead to a happy and peaceful solution.”
He looks back down at his soup. ”I wish I could be flippant like you again. Don’t worry? When there’s not a threat I’ll have less worries.”
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Ieyasu returns with some scraps of beef and sets them before Rajni's companion. "Here you go."
He then sighs at the two. "I can see that things change very little over the years. Rajni, you believe that there is something to gain from talking. Duskwalker, you think that the only lasting solution is violence. Only a fool believes there are only two outcomes. You must think. Who is your enemy? Who do they serve? Themselves or a higher power? You may not broker peace between you and your enemy, but you can always create conflict between your enemy and another party. Especially if they are self-serving."
He shrugs. "But what do I know? I'm just an old man."
”A old man who has wisdom to back up his years, Oni-slayer. Thank you for shuffling the board.”
Smiling he looks up from his soup. ”Besides, my being a Duskwalker shows that violence isn’t a lasting solution, merely a temporary one.”
Shamara happily accepts the meat, and gives Ieyasu a satisfied meow in thanks.
Rajni just sighs and goes on to eat her food. The sooner she could finish, the sooner she could go talk to Toni about everything, including what Mr. Ieyasu had said. Maybe there was another way to handle things. There was no point in trying to convince Toska of anything, since his mind was already made up and she wasn't interested in wasting her breath, or letting her tea get cold.
She just lets the strange man eat and drink in peace as she enjoys her own treat and tea.
Finished talking, as soon as she's done with her food and Shamara is done with her meat, Rajni politely excuses herself and goes over to where Ieyasu tends the bar, "Thanks for everything Mr. Ieyasu, how much for everything?"
"And what do you have to be miserable about?" Ieyasu asks the foppish man.
He then turns to Rajni. "Two silver, please."
"Alas, I have run out of conquests, but my appetite is still there," the man answers, disregarding Ieyasu's dismissive tone. "You, Dillon's fetchling girl...could you introduce me to that friend of yours, Toni? I'm sure she could use a good romp."
He give Rajni a lewd grin. "There aren't many single girls in town and I'm having a craving for something new."
Rajni fishes out a gold and hands it Ieyasu, "I'm covering the strange one's meal as well as thanking you for taking such good care of us Mr. Ieyasu."
Turning her gaze on the one she had heard plenty about around town she narrows her eyes, "I will thank you not to refer to me that way again Sir. I am more than Dillon's girl, and Toni deserves more than some cheap roll in the hay with a rude, stuffed up peacock of a man. You are nothing more than a cheap womanizer that likes to drink his troubles and loneliness away. If you have run out of women to rut with and then cast aside, might I suggest that you either figure out what it is you really want to do with your life, or find some other place with new "conquests" to discover?" She says, her hands on her hips in a defensive posture.
Noting Rajni's tone, Shamara's hackles raise as she hisses at the man.
Toska chuckles as Rajni admonishes the fool.
"Why so hostile? I'm merely offering my services to those who need it the most," the man refutes. "Toni would appreciate a learned man's technique."
Rajni growls low in her throat, "If you ever even think about approaching Toni, I will make sure you're never able to "service" anyone again. You are so far beneath someone like Toni that it's pathetic. Sort out your fu<king life mate, and stay away from Toni. She doesn't need to learn anything from the likes of you." Her arms then cross over her chest.
"I am more than capable of introducing myself to her, but I was trying to be polite. She is an adult and can make up her own mind about me," the man says with a wink to Toska.
"You're about as polite as a pig, and you'll stay away from her. She doesn't need anything you have to offer. She already knows plenty about who and what you are. My warning is also polite, you'd be smart to heed it." She says, the anger obvious in her tone.
The man simply laughs. "I see why Dillon adores you. Fiery women are good in bed."
Rajni looks ready to punch him in the face.
Toska blinks. ”And you think this flaccid insipidity of your’s will do... what?”
Barely hearing Toska through the rage that she feels she looks over at him curiously, "Huh?"
"I am more than capable of introducing myself to her, but I was trying to be polite. She is an adult and can make up her own mind about me," the man says with a wink to Toska.