For Fern's Sake

Log Info

• Title: For Fern's Sake
• Emitter: Aryia
• Characters: Aryia, Merek, Vaera, Venom
• Place: Fernwood Pub
• Time: September 12th, 2021
• Summary: Following after a minor success in the library, a menagerie of folk spill into the Fernwood and claim a table: Aryia, Merek, Vaera, and Venom. Conversation is mostly light, though there were a number of awkward moments. The disparity between Merek and the group apparent, some slightly heated words from Aryia, as well as Vaera calling out Aryia. Vaera requests some advice from Venom on how to hide one's appearance after Aryia departs to take a nap, as well as discussing how the People could use some magical shoes. The party splinters off one by one, Vaera first to tend to some business, then Merek, leaving Venom to remain pensive.

Fernwood Pub, Afternoon. 

Following an excursion from the city's library, a small celebration was in order. Aryia had never known how to do her kind's magic, and she was successful! Filing in as the first in, the aforementioned mul'neissa claims a table and orders up some food for the group, the staff having gotten used to the mute woman at this point. It's vaguely busy within the establishment, the din of noise tolerable.

Merek walks along with the party to the Fernwood Pub, taking his time to put that visor into a pocket. He then nods a bit while he takes a seat at the table with Aryia and all of the others. The man looks to menu and will take the time to begin making an order. It looks like it's caramel in butterscotch liqueur.

Vaera was quick to move through the streets, keeping up with the group, a bit away, and watching the people around them. When they reach the Fernwood, she finds a seat at the chosen table, facing the door after spinning a seat around. she picks up a menu, looking a bit small in her hands. She places an order for some tomato juice. Perhaps it's the color.

The veiled one moves with the others, probably scanning about beneath the shroud during the journey for prudence's sake, but it's hard to say for sure.

It wasn't a particuarly long walk, and she moves with her usual poise along to Aryia's selected table with nary a word.

Once there, a point to this drink, or that bowl, resulted in the arrival of a mulled mead and a venison stew. Hands lifting beneath the veils to unbuckle several things beneath, she tucks in over her meal to let her veils play curtain to whatever show is going on digestionally speaking.

One of her hands, not busy with a spoon, signs a quick, "This deer soup is good." <handspeech>

A simple ale for Aryia reaches her, as well as some manner of finger food reaches them all: deviled eggs, and breadsticks. She picks up the drink and sips at it, only to mull with it. A glance is stolen to Venom, a light smile cresting her lips seeing her get comfortable.

A long sigh escapes her, nodding towards Venom. "I haven't tried that one yet, I'll have to get it next time."

To Merek, she gestures with a light smile, "I finally figured out how to make a small light, after many years of never knowing how to do most mul'neissa can. Hence the minor occasion." <Handspeech>

"Congratulations," Merek offers then to Aryia, while he takes the time to wait for his drink. When it arrives, the man takes a drink from that, then looks to everyone and will nod a little bit, "What have you all been up to besides, practicing magic?" the man asks.

"It is something to acknowledge." Vaera nods, finding her meal there now, mostly roasted meat. She picks up a piece, and tears into it. She looks to see Venom eating for a moment, but doesn't question it much further. "Venison is usually quite good." She agrees. "I have been taking on odd jobs, helping others in Mictlan. Nothing too much of note."

Venom nods slightly, putting a little sway in her veils and flipping a thumbs-up to Aryia's statement, then turns it to Vaera's before her hand retreats to her digestive tasks.

There are a couple clinks of a spoon, then she straightens up some to start signing in more elaboration, presumably busy chewing as well, "Little jobs. Nothing spectacular." <handspeech>

Aryia gives a little smile at the praise, it feeling odd others were glad for her. The question makes her pensive, not as brisk and forth coming as the others. "I... have been trying different things. Clothes, and... making them," she gestures slowly, not used to opening up in mixed company. Even going so far as to add in hesitantly, "I don't know why I like it so much."

She directs the question back at Merek. "And you? Have you been recovering well?" <Handspeech>

Merek is a little bit pensive while he takes the time to think about it, then he takes a look along to Aryia, "Well enough," he will note, then he's nodding a bit. "Making clothes can be wonderful. I like designing." Then to Venom and Vaera, "Jobs, great for money. I have 200,000 gold to try and manage with the estate, and wondering if there's any charities that might benefit. That, or I can buy clothes that cost 50 kay per." The man takes a drink from that alcohol with him, and scratches along the stubble on his face. "Adventuring takes way too much money, admittedly. Anyway."

Vaera blinks, shakes her head, and chuffs. "Fifty thousand gold pieces on a set of clothes sounds like some one is getting taken advantage of. Donate some of it to some trustworthy temples, or something like that. I have seen too many out on the streets here as it is, and it bothers me how little softskins seem to care for the others around them sometimes." They state, before tearing into some more food.

Venom probably stares at the declaration of expansive sums of money. Where does he keep it?

A stillness from the shrouded one for some more seconds before her head pivots toward Vaera's remarks. Her chin dips anew and she tucks in once more on her meal, but offers nothing in rebuttal.

The elf was taking a drink as she heard that, and a painful spray of ale shot from her nose and she doubled over, coughing. To say that Aryia's head swivels would be a lame understatement. It whips over with wide eyes towards the man at their table, face dripping with alcohol. She sputters a bit, cleaning off her visage with a sleeve. "W-t -n th- -ct- f-ck?"

Some semblance of sanity returns to her as she gestures briskly, "For fuck's sake, you're just asking to get mugged, saying that shit out loud." She huffs and nods in agreement with the redscale, picking up a napkin and turning off to the side to blow her nose out. Damn, that really hurt. <Handspeech>

"I don't think that will be, you know," Merek notes then to Aryia while he watches, then he chuckles a little. To Vaera, "I offer what I can. Although, I will admit that magical items generally take a lot of money. I think that Adventuring, while nice, probably is a way to get people to make money off of people," he will note. Then to Venom, the man nods a little bit, "Anyway. There are not a lot of jobs to take when you are this great at what you do. I've had two jobs maybe."

"Everyone says that, till they're in an alleyway with a knife in their gut thinking they're above that, or wrapped up in someone else's scheme." Vaera chuffs. "That is not a threat. And yes, a lot of adventuring work is glorified contracting, with even less oversight. You can always do less demanding less work for less gold, but others need the work still."

Venom reaches over as Aryia starts to aspirate her drink, but hesitates just before patting her back as she manages to cough her way past it.

The hand hovers there while the woman stares, the unfastened straps beneath her veils hanging like illithid tendrils, and finally relents as Aryia starts to give the wealthy one the business.

She doesn't weigh in on the motivation, or the ecosystems at large, content to keep her own council, though she does scoop out a spoonful of the stew and holds it out to the Mul'niessa, perhaps as distraction.

Aryia only shakes her head at the reply, face scowling as she coughs out the last bits of her drink. The hand makes her pause, then crack an eye open to see who it was. A demure smile crests her lips, her giving a thumbs up before finally getting herself righted.

She was about to weight in on everything, but a spoon entering her vision breaks that line of thought. She blinks, turning to face Venom. Eyes glance to the spoon, then to the illithid-esque visage. Slowly leaning forward, Aryia captures the offered stew with her mouth, cleaning off the utensil with a light crimson dusting her scarred face.

A pause. "... it is good, you were right," she replies to the welcome distraction. <Handspeech>

Merek looks to the drink with him, then he sips from that, while taking time to look to everyone in thought. He looks then to Venom only to look away at the illithid-esque look. He drinks more and takes the time to try to distract himself, "I like alcohol that is like dessert. The city is pretty nice, I kind of wish that it was winter."

"Steady, Aryia. Have a drink of water after a moment." Vaera says, her attention mostly on the coughing mul'niessa now. "Or, stew would be alright as well." She adds. "Winter is bizarre to me still, that people like it. I need to talk to those in Mictlan more about it, as I have never seen a makari tribe prepare for it, and I would help out how I am able. I know how hard it is to stay fed during those months, and sheltered."

Venom's head shifts orientation just a smidge, subtle highlights shifting behind the veil for a moment at Aryia's reaction before she turns her attention back to the table at large. The spoon goes back into the stew, and she signs, "I like how tender it is."

With the man's imput, she cocks her head a little to one side, then shrugs, signing for one of the girls (probably Vaera) to translate, "Lot of things happen here."

Her attention turns toward her prospective interpereter and she signs, "There should be plenty of experts in the market district, or the Guild." <handspeech>

Aryia blinks. Did Venom see? Venom saw. She certainly saw. "... agreed," she gestures simply before coughing in her fist.

A-Anyways.

Her attention shifts back to the table, her giving a quizzical look at Merek from the brisk change of topic. Al.. right? She wasn't going to push it. "I don't like winter a lot, it's way too cold," she motions with a light shiver at the thought of it. "At least you can always put more clothes on to help with it." <Handspeech>

Merek seems to be changing the topic to more happier things like weather, and will nod along to Aryia. There's a look to Venom and to Vaera, "Well. Assisting people with preparing for winter can be wonderful. I know how to make these magical boots that protect during any weather. I can see if I can donate a little to a project to get some made for your Makari tribe, and to teach the way to make it?" It's clear he's trying really. To fit in with the conversation, he does look to the place wistfully. In fact, he's often alone when anyone sees him, and socializing doesn't really look to be something he knows a lot about.

"Boots that help with weather, it sounds helpful, but expensive." Vaera notes after a moment of thought, tearing into a leg of roasted meat. "Although, boots do not work for my people. At least those with two working legs."

She taps the wooden leg against the ground, and sticks out her living one. "But for the most at risk younglings, it could be helpful. Thank you for the offer, I should discuss it with the keeper castes when I am able."

She looks to the others, between Venom and Aryia. "Lots of things happen here. And Venom mentioned plenty of experts available in guilds and market districts." A pause. "I believe Aryia appreciated the tenderness of the offering, more than the tenderness of the meat."

Venom nods, "Sometimes travelling long distances take you to different climates. Good to know, in any case." she signs. She takes up her mug, bringing it up under the veil before it meets, well, presumably a mouth and there is the soft slurp of her beverage. A slow sigh sounds, but the veils are too far to be ruffled, and there is more sipping.

Her chin dips as the mug lowers ot return to the table before she says anything further.

That done, "Trade for furs?" she suggests.

Her head cocks at Vaera's... assessment of Aryia's appraisal, but at the moment, her hands are still. Not neutral. Still. <handspeech>

Aryia raises a brow at Merek. For Venom, it looked as if the man understood what the gestures were. She leans over to look at the shown leg, her making an 'ah' expression while motioning, "Like Veara said, that sounds pretty expensive. But maybe something could be done with it."

Though, at Vaera's comment, her head swivels over to the sith-makar. Milk eyes blinking several time. Then glance over to the stilled hands.

Enough color floods the mute elf's face for her to be mistaken as a sunburnt Llyranesi. She sinks into her chair, pulling her mug close to her face and sipping from it. Gee, what's at the bottom of this cup?

She does not refute the point. <Handspeech>

"That's why part was an offer of donation, although... Trade can work as well for furs to keep with the tribe,' Merek will note, while he takes the time to finish the drink with him. When the conversation changes like that the man looks between everyone and looks distinctly like he wants to focus on anything else. He takes the time to watch the wall, and waits for the people to get back into conversation. "Anyway. There's a lot that can be managed for winter."

Vaera sips on her tomato juice, letting out a puff of air as she sets it down. "Yes, there may be some things we could trade in return. Many are proud and would not take direct donations, and would not wish to rely on outsiders. But, if it means some of the younger or more frail can weather the winter better, it could be worthwhile."

Vaera was tall, and easily reaches over most of the table to pat Aryia on a shoulder. "It is alright, Aryia." Vaera says with a more relaxed rumble to her voice. Which may not be reassuring for non Makari. She sat back down in her seat. "Apologies if that was too much."

Venom holds her position for several more heartbeats before something reminds her she's doing a perplexed golem impression and her hands close into loose fists, then relax. Her shoulders rise and fall, then, mental reset complete, she starts to sign, "Exotic meats for good furs from here?" Because exotic yum-yums are good business.

Not at all that she doesn't have the foggiest how to respond to the rest. <handspeech>

Aryia, to be completely honest, was a bit too busy being as red as the soup Vaera sips on. The pat on the shoulder only further compounded her embarrassment. She did not add to the conversation, instead she slowly drains the drink in hand, another being set on the table to replace it. That strange striation on the table sure looks interesting.

Merek will offer a little sigh, and just takes the time to distract himself again. He keeps waiting, watching what was the drink that he had, which he finished with. There's a look to Vaera, "I will see about what I can do all in all. I know there are a few things." The man looks along to the place and will seem to consider, "Exotic meat... I think it might be interesting to trade with medicine," the man will note along.

"Perhaps, there are many things to be traded. Trading is much more preferable, as long as it is fair. But that is difficult, as softskins tend to place different values on many goods." Vaera notes after taking another sip of the juice. "So, the tailoring, was there anything you were planning on trying out to begin with? When you have your tools and materials, Aryia." The redscale asks, hoping to jog the two out of their stillness.

Venom shrugs, "Negotiate. Shop around for good prices. Work through agents if you suspect something shady." she recommends, her hands flying through their gestures.

She puts herself on hush mode to enjoy some more of this delicious stew while the other discuss crafting. Despite the veils, it's likely Aryia can feel the third set of eyes on her. <handspeech>

It was not until she got halfway through her second drink and nibbling on a few eggs for when Aryia rejoined the conversation, the color in her visage mostly returning to its moderate grey. She steals a glance towards Venom, blinks, back to her cup, then addresses the question. "I... bought some materials already. I got the tools. I... am trying to make a scarf? I think? It's... really just a long rectangle. I haven't had a moment to talk to S-A-N-D-Y to learn more."

It felt like a hole was being stared into the side of her head. <Handspeech>

When the stress gets to be too much for Merek, the man begins to cough into his glove. With that, he places the blood-specked hand to his side, trying to hide it while he speaks, from the hood. "Scarf is great. And... Well, she's definitely an interesting teacher." The man nods a bit while he tries to keep his thoughts upon the conversation. "I mostly make magical items, although I know a few things about making attire."

"It is a rectangle, yes, but you still need to make sure all the ends are neat and secure, so nothin will come apart. Especially with how you need to wrap it over itself."

Vaera seems to look at Venom for a moment, perhaps at where her neck would be. "Is there a color in particular you like?" She asks, before a cough takes her attention again. "Are you feeling alright?" They ask after sniffing at the air.

Venom remains sedately bringing food to her face if the soft sploopy sounds of spoonwork occasionally emitting from behind the veils mean anything. She seems to relent on the stare as coughing occurs off to another vector. Her head pivots toward the man, even as Vaera does, though her olfactory gifts aren't nearly so profound.

Sometimes that's a blessing.

She has stories, probably.

If the first query was meant for her ears, she doesn't seem to realize it, but with the second already in the air, she needn't ask, herself.

Aryia slowly evens her breath out as her focus comes back, a worried glance going towards Merek at the coughing. "Interesting is... as word for her." She dare not share the arsenal of attire that she had been through in that woman's shop. "I guess that makes sense, if you make magic things, then you probably need to know how to make the thing the magic is going in." Crude, but simple enough.

The question posed by Vaera makes Aryia glance over at Venom's hands, quietly expecting an answer to file away for later. But none comes. She bites her cheek and instead becomes occupied with the table's new source of attention. <Handspeech>

Merek looks then to Vaera, and nods a little bit, "I'm alright," the man offers. When it's clear that he probably isn't. Then he's taking a look to Venom, "I am curious to know your favorite color." Then to Aryia, "As for well... You know, I remember when that woman was around a lot more. I went to her shop a few times, I like it."

"I have been looking for a place where I could purchase a new cloak. Perhaps I will consider that one, then." Vaera nods, cleaning a few bones of their remaining meat. Then she turns her attention to Merek. "Alright people do not leave the scent of blood from their coughs. You should see a healer about that, or rest more if you need to. If I remember correctly, you spend a lot time working. Perhaps you need to spend less."

"I never thought it." Venom signs after a moment's pause, then lays her hand flat against the table for a few moments. Vaera, blessed new distraction that she presents herself to be, raises her hand to sign a query, "How much do you want to spend?"

As Vaera turns to Merek's condition, she gives a couple of short nods of agreement. <handspeech>

Aryia nibbles on her breadsticks, looking between the two as they went back and forth. She nods in agreement with the table, even though she knows Merek is one. Though, Venom's answer wasn't satisfactory, the elf slowly breaking a bread stick in half and offering it to Venom for her stew.

Her other hand, under the table and only to Venom, requests in small gestures, "Think about it...?" <Handspeech>

"There's no healer that can fix that, I apologize," Merek will offer to Vaera, looking to her with his thoughtful eyes, then he takes a look along to Aryia and to Venom, "You will have an interesting cloak Vaera, if you get it from there. With that in mind, I would not mind sharing recipes with the people at some point."

"Shaman caste are often looking for new magics to study and learn about. I do not think it would go amiss." Vaera nods. "I am sorry a healer will not help, or you feel it will not. I hope it will resolve, then."

The question and comments made her tilt her head. "I am not looking for too much, it is not even for myself. But I would not pay too little, and leave them with a shoddily made garment that falls apart when they need it most. A few gold, perhaps. More if it is properly made to fit a Makari. Many cloaks sit too tight to the body, leave no room for movement of a tail."

Venom's head pivots toward the sound of breaking breadsticks next to her, just in time to catch the arrival of Aryia's offering. A little cant, and a quick sign of, "Thank you." and she accepts the stick. This should be interesting.

She looks to the fellow as he explains both woe and ambition, nodding slightly before signing a consilatory, "Sorry."

Vaera's rebuttal draws her attention, then and she replies, "Months till winter, plenty of time to scout suppliers." <handspeech>

Welp, can't fault a gal for trying. Aryia gives a light smile to Venom before turning back to the others. She figures as much, the others didn't fare much better in that place.

She looks between the three, her nodding along with all sentiments. "My friend has these magic sleeves to change clothes easily, she's a sith-makar as well. Might be a bit expensive though. There's bound to be something around here for you though, considering how close Mictlan is." <Handspeech>

"Ah, I made those for your friend, I think. They are a little cheap actually, though there's something to be said for clothes you buy on your own that's not magical," Merek will note, while he takes a look to Vaera while speaking to Aryia. He doesn't add anymore, though his body language seems to tell that he's sure about his words, while he nods to Venom, "There's a lot of culture in the city. You should explore it a lot."

Vaera seems to think for a moment. She blinks, and then shakes her head. "Ah! The cloak I am thinking of, it is not for winter, just for general use. To cover up more, I suppose." She explains. "I am sure something would be found. I may wait to look with them, but it would be best to have an idea of options, at the very least."

"There is nothing wrong with magical objects, but the price is usually too much for many."

Venom doesn't.

It does seem to be the question of the hour.

She nods and turns toward Aryia as she explains about the magic sleeves. That has a certain utilitarian charm, doesn't it?

Vaera's notes about the cloak's intended purchase prompts her to taptap her poncho before she signs, "This guy is good." <handspeech>

Aryia just stares at Merek. "Cheap. Says the man atop a fucking trove of gold." She mutters something voiceless under her breath, bits of hisses of Undercommon spilling forth. Not enough to get a sentence, but enough to know it wasn't pretty.

The mute woman sighs and looks over to the tapping. She nods. "Yes, there's a tailor some ways that way-" she gestures, pointing a hand off towards some road beyond the walls,"-that made a vest for me, as well as Venom's poncho. It's some solid stuff, can hold up well to getting in a scuffle." <Handspeech>

Merek looks along to the people at the table, and nods. "Apologies." The man does seem to have almost no concept of some things. Then he's looking from the hood while he scratches along his stubble in thought, "Anyway. I think it'd be nice to learn more of culture." Then he's taking a look along to the bar, "I wonder."

"Learning about culture is good. There is much that can be shared, much that can be learned, even if not everything. Many came here out of Am'shere to do just that." She seems to agree, looking to her plate, and picking up a large chunk of beef to tear into. "Any other tailors are worth looking into as well."

Vaera looks back to Venom, tilting her head somewhat. "I apologize if this comes off as rude, but if you could tell me more about how you hide your form sometime, I would hear it. The one I am looking to get a cloak for, they have similar concerns."

All things in context.

Venom nods to the exchange and holds a hand out under the table to Aryia's side with a sign of, "Easy."

The veiled woman's attention turns to the others, then, as they expand the conversation to cultural exchanges....

And suddenly, her personal obfuscations.

The figure stills for a moment. A subtle dip in the angle of her head, but she signs, "Layers." <handspeech>

It really looked like Aryia had more to say, another quip or two. But her eyes dart off to the side, next to the table. The mul'neissa softly sighs, and relents. Disarmed with a simple motion.

The elf nods along. "Learning culture is fun, I've found," she adds, eating the last of the deviled eggs and finishing her drink. Her eyes slide over to Venom at the question. Settling right on her gaze, knowing where exactly to look. She gives a soft smile, and nods. "A lot of layers."

Taking a moment to stretch, she slides the last of the breadsticks over to Venom and stands. "I think I'm going to lay down for a bit. That light orb thing took a bit out of me. See you all later."

The mute elf waves in goodbye to the table. As she goes, a hand pats Venom on the shoulder once, then gives her arm a light nudge with a knuckle as she heads on upstairs. <Handspeech>

Merek nods a bit while he waves along to Aryia, then he takes a look to the two, nodding a little bit while he thinks.

"Understandably so. If you have not cast any magic before, what reserves you have will be drained quickly. But it is like a muscle, it will grow easier, less tiring, with practice." Vaera advises, and chuffs. "And when it is not used for some time, you become out of tune with it, it diminishes."

She waves off the Mul, and turns her attention to the others at the table. She nods to Venom's explanation, sipping on the juice. "Multiple points of contingencies, that makes sense. Though I do not know how much covering would be effective with them."

Venom's head shifts slightly to Aryia's direction as she ammends the answer she'd given. A little shrug, then, but she meets the breadsticks with a quick, "Thank you. Sleep well."

The touches to her arm get a nod, and her hand lifts to gently pat the hand before the Mul'niessa drifts off to bed.

A breadstick, is brought up behind the veils to meet it's fate with a crunch. Well, a foray into fate, perhaps, ere the rest of the snack is dipped into her bowl and swirled about some. A slightly mushier crunch.

There is a look between the man and Vaera, but as it's the sith that speaks up, first, it's there that her attention holds at first.

"It depends on your starting point." a pause, then, "End goal." a shrug, then, "Compromises you're willing to make. Mobility, comfort, armour, that sort of thing." <handspeech>

Merek will nod along to the two, while he takes the time to take a cigarette from the pack with him, placing that in his mouth, lighting it. With that, he will relax and watch the place.

Vaera looks to the cigarette, tilts her head, and chuffs. It was a way to hide the scent of blood at least.

She seems to consider how much to say, how much would be mentioned. "It is not to hide full appearance, but rather attributes, but much of it kind of overlaps anyways. Teeth-"

She opens her jaw enough to tap a rather sharp tooth. "Scales, and hands. So, most. I would just like them to be able to feel at ease as much in the city as possible."

Venom's head lists a few degrees off kilter at the parameters put forth, vague as they are. What she knows about Makari culture is, well, not quite up to this particular enigma. A slow sigh is exhaled through her nose, fluttering her veils as her hands steeple on the table. Her fingers tap-tap agaisnt each other in little ripples while she, apparantly, processes that.

Merek chews on the cigarette while he seems to think about it, and nods to the two. "Well, when you are obscuring, it's best to pick something that doesn't make people too curious, probably. Like this woman, she seems to give appearance of a cleric, more than anything," he nods along and to Venom.

"This is true. The head, the fangs, it is probably the most difficult part. I am able to look relatively normal due to clothing, but if I was scarred more on my face, or had fangs such as that, it is much harder to hide a face when it is as long as mine." Vaera says, looking to the veiled woman again. "The question is what would work without being too odd."

Vaera looked perfectly normal where she stood, other than the wooden leg that was even hidden mostly by her coat. Just what was she talking about?

Venom gives that another few seconds before her hands part to sign, "What is odd for your people?" she starts, "By themselves, they are uncommon enough to draw eyes."

She turns her face to the man and gives a brief, quizzical cant of her head, then shrugs and nods his way, "Gloves could work for hands, using reptile hide of similar color, like a serpent would fool casual eyes. The head and teeth would need more specifics to even guess." <handspeech>

"Not too much is odd outside of certain situations. It is complicated." Vaera chuffs, finishing off her plate of meat. "Take my face, and extend some of my fangs so they would stick out of my mouth for example. Though perhaps there is only so much that can be done without having seen them. Perhaps you will, if they come to the city. Though I would ask you Venom, to not mention my concern. I just trust you, and your opinions." She says, leaving her chair. "Apologies, Venom and Merek, but I should take my leave. Thank you for the invitation for the meal and drinks. I am always happy to talk."

With that, the tall makari half clunks out of the pub, into the city for whatever the needs were for the remainder of the day.

Merek waves along while he nods to Vaera, then a look to Venom, while he nods a little.

Venom absorbs that for a time, then nods, signing, "We'll see, then. I'll keep quiet."

Did she just make a joke?

As Vaera stands, she reaches out to gently knuckle bump an arm and sign, "Be well." before she heads on out.

Her attention turns to Merek, then, but she doesn't seem to have an ice breaker on hand.

Well, except...

She holds a breadstick out his way. <handspeech>

Merek looks to the breadstick, and will take it into a hand, while he nods a bit. Then he's taking a bite, "Thank you," he offers, while he watches from the hood.

Venom gives a little thumbs up with the hand now free from making her offering, then returns her attention to finishing her stew.

Merek seems to think about it a moment, then looks to the breadstick. "Mm. Well, I don't know what to say, and you don't really seem to talk a lot. With that in mind, it's good to see these people all enjoying everything."

Venom nods, signing an experimental, "Enjoyment is good."

She doesn't touch the rest. It could be a thing with her.

She then slides the bowl, reasonably clean, from her and starts the dance with her mead.

A sigh ruffles the veils as the mead is set back on the table, then, "Polishess the rest of the day." <handspeech>

Merek nods a bit along to Venom, while he thinks about it. "Mmn, I suppose." He then looks along to the place, and will take the time to relax, "I should think about getting a nap and preparing, probably."

Venom nods in consideration, then signs a slow, "I won't keep you, if you need to go. You should look to your health, and rest is important." <Handspech>

"I don't think there's a lot to do about that, although perhaps a little of that might assist me," Merek will nod along to Venom, while he thinks about it.

Venom nods again and lets her companion think all her must as she takes up another sip of her drink. Her thoughts find themselves drawing inward, to another direction.

Merek will nod a little bit, then he stands up, before making a way from the place.

-End Scene-