"You never seem to fear anything… humans really are different," commented Bjorn idly, between directions and aiming his talon down various streets. While the city was arrayed around the center tower, the buildings were tall and it was never quite evident where the tower was. The odinkine seemed at home, nonetheless, greeting more of his kind, who were touching up another mural. This one of a man clutching a dying woman with white hair close to his chest, a red mark on her own.
At the forlorn mention of Drysi, Bjorn gave Willow a sidelong look. The harpy gave one consideration to it before his talon was poking at her cheek.
"Oh? Who's this Drysi?" egged Bjorn, speaking somewhat loudly in the next statement, "Someone special? Come on. No secrets between friends."
"Someone special?
One of the odinkine on the scaffold swooped down and squawked, "Does the human have a sweetheart?"
Sensing rumor to be had, more of them flocked to Willow and Bjorn. The perched from rail to tree, enquiring, "Does the human pine for someone?”
Another, this one with lustrous, midnight feathers landed on the limb ahead. In a flourish, it took the form of a young man, unable to resist the business of others. It was Creative, unabashedly grinning.
"The human is already taken? If only I had known!" added Creative to the chorus, "Smart will be relieved!"
Under the cawing laughter that followed, Willow could see the entrance to the common hall of the place that Smart resided across the street. She was in sprinting distance, and it looked like Noble was at the steps, speaking to some canidaer. A few them were louding equipment in a cart.
[The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“Drysi?” Willow asked as she rolled her eyes at the reactions, particularly once Creative decided to show his face again. She didn’t particularly feel like indulging the gossip, at least in regards to Drysi, but she was trying to unwind and get back to being her easy going self. “She’s a fine girl. But my life, my love, and my lady is the sea.”
She smirked as she sauntered the rest of the way over to Noble.
“Yo!” she called with a casual wave. “How goes the battle?”
She smirked as she sauntered the rest of the way over to Noble.
“Yo!” she called with a casual wave. “How goes the battle?”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
A cacophony of cawing chortling followed the Allomancer as she quit all who harried her. Two of the centurions with Noble turned on Willow as she approached, but were dismissed out of hand by their leader.
"Willow!" cheerily greeted Noble, grinning ear to ear, "I have been working on the assemblage. A couple of divisions to each region should help rout the threat. Clever has assured me her people can construct proper quarters for them. The hope is that by hemming them back to the old forest, we can weaken Vengeance."
The door the main hall opened, the hooded form of Smart emerged, her sister's homonculus riding on the box she held. An orange saber sat across the top. Clever waved a small hand, but Smart merely flattened her mouth.
Noble continued, finally looking Willow up and down, "And what of you? Where are you destined for once your business in the city is done?"
"Willow!" cheerily greeted Noble, grinning ear to ear, "I have been working on the assemblage. A couple of divisions to each region should help rout the threat. Clever has assured me her people can construct proper quarters for them. The hope is that by hemming them back to the old forest, we can weaken Vengeance."
The door the main hall opened, the hooded form of Smart emerged, her sister's homonculus riding on the box she held. An orange saber sat across the top. Clever waved a small hand, but Smart merely flattened her mouth.
Noble continued, finally looking Willow up and down, "And what of you? Where are you destined for once your business in the city is done?"
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“I need to go see Diligence in the Such-n-Such Mountains,” responded Willow in an intentionally disinterested tone. Looking past Noble she smiled and gave a saluting wave to Clever and Smart when she noticed them. “Need to stock up on my metals if I’m gonna be of any help against Vengeance. First I needed to swing by to collect my stuff before setting out. Maybe get some travel tips from y’all while I was at it. Both for getting to Diligence, and for rendezvousing with whomever I should be rendezvousing with once I got my snack sitch dealt with. So what’s the word, General?”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Noble's countenance fell on the mention of Diligence, with Smart stiffening and her sister perking up even more. Willow's last question hung in the air for longer than it should, as the General seemed caught on tasting the words in his mouth. Thankfully, Creative had made his way over with a grin.
"That's right, Noble, how exactly would one find Diligence?" asked Creative, his eyes not matching the warm smile.
"You don't need to answer him," started Smart, glaring at the Jotungardian.
"And why not?" buzzed Clever, looking up at Smart, "He's the reason Diligence isn't here anymore."
"He made a decision," snapped Smart, at both of them, "when neither of you would. We all abstained. We have no right to judge him."
"It wasn't a decision we needed to make," shot back Creative.
The three of them began to argue, much to the discomfort of the smallfolk around them. Every volley seemed to put more weight on Noble's shoulders. He was sweating, and, finally, he screwed his eyes shut.
"ENOUGH," boomed Noble's voice, the suddenness of which ended the argument. Calmly, shakily, he continued, "None of this helps Metal-Eater. She already knows what I am."
He took a breath, "The Yormundyaw mountains are to the north. The north road winds through a few islands to its border. You should face little trouble getting there."
Smart came down the stairs and pressed the box in Willow's arms.
"Your things," Smart explained, plucking her sister off the top, "You should find everything in order."
"Did you give her something?" asked Clever.
"No," sullenly answered Smart.
"What? You always give people things. You gave Noble that orange sword or that jacket to Creative."
Smart again plucked up her sister and dropped her into a pocket deep in her robes. The small homunculus buzzed muffled protests as Noble carried on.
"I wish we had time to be better hosts," remarked Noble apologetically, "Yet here you are, going ahead of us. Diligence lives the closest to the forest. His people, the Quarrids, face the brunt of the wraiths. He should be able to get you all the metal you need."
"If he even still wants to help us," Creative commented, now staring off at another work of art being painted with chisel and stone across the street.
"That's right, Noble, how exactly would one find Diligence?" asked Creative, his eyes not matching the warm smile.
"You don't need to answer him," started Smart, glaring at the Jotungardian.
"And why not?" buzzed Clever, looking up at Smart, "He's the reason Diligence isn't here anymore."
"He made a decision," snapped Smart, at both of them, "when neither of you would. We all abstained. We have no right to judge him."
"It wasn't a decision we needed to make," shot back Creative.
The three of them began to argue, much to the discomfort of the smallfolk around them. Every volley seemed to put more weight on Noble's shoulders. He was sweating, and, finally, he screwed his eyes shut.
"ENOUGH," boomed Noble's voice, the suddenness of which ended the argument. Calmly, shakily, he continued, "None of this helps Metal-Eater. She already knows what I am."
He took a breath, "The Yormundyaw mountains are to the north. The north road winds through a few islands to its border. You should face little trouble getting there."
Smart came down the stairs and pressed the box in Willow's arms.
"Your things," Smart explained, plucking her sister off the top, "You should find everything in order."
"Did you give her something?" asked Clever.
"No," sullenly answered Smart.
"What? You always give people things. You gave Noble that orange sword or that jacket to Creative."
Smart again plucked up her sister and dropped her into a pocket deep in her robes. The small homunculus buzzed muffled protests as Noble carried on.
"I wish we had time to be better hosts," remarked Noble apologetically, "Yet here you are, going ahead of us. Diligence lives the closest to the forest. His people, the Quarrids, face the brunt of the wraiths. He should be able to get you all the metal you need."
"If he even still wants to help us," Creative commented, now staring off at another work of art being painted with chisel and stone across the street.
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Oops.
Willow had gone and stuck her foot in her mouth again, it seemed. Resisting the urge to sink down into the ground, considering that was not being a part of her skill set, the teen stared vacantly past the artisans towards a particularly interesting portion of wall. It wasn’t until Noble silenced the bickering that Willow tuned back into the discourse. While tensions appeared to be cooling, Willow still sensed Smart was unhappy about the situation; or perhaps the artisan just didn’t like her. Which was… fair… Willow had been prickly, torn Smart’s robe, and gotten along with her crush; she could probably write teen sitcoms about this whole matter, like Witches of Waverly Place.
“What’chy’all talking about? Ye been great hosts! I even got to sleep in!” Willow gave a wide grin as she sat the box down to start rummaging. “For that matter, Smart doesn’t owe me anything, what with me bumming her bed and clothes ‘n’ such. Not to mention, by transitive property, she also gave me the coat and cutlass. To that end…”
Willow turned over some stuff until she found what she was looking for. Her smile was a bit cautious now as she held up her pug pajamas.
“Would you like to keep these, Smart?” she offered. “It’s not much, but just about all I have to offer you as thanks.”
Willow had gone and stuck her foot in her mouth again, it seemed. Resisting the urge to sink down into the ground, considering that was not being a part of her skill set, the teen stared vacantly past the artisans towards a particularly interesting portion of wall. It wasn’t until Noble silenced the bickering that Willow tuned back into the discourse. While tensions appeared to be cooling, Willow still sensed Smart was unhappy about the situation; or perhaps the artisan just didn’t like her. Which was… fair… Willow had been prickly, torn Smart’s robe, and gotten along with her crush; she could probably write teen sitcoms about this whole matter, like Witches of Waverly Place.
“What’chy’all talking about? Ye been great hosts! I even got to sleep in!” Willow gave a wide grin as she sat the box down to start rummaging. “For that matter, Smart doesn’t owe me anything, what with me bumming her bed and clothes ‘n’ such. Not to mention, by transitive property, she also gave me the coat and cutlass. To that end…”
Willow turned over some stuff until she found what she was looking for. Her smile was a bit cautious now as she held up her pug pajamas.
“Would you like to keep these, Smart?” she offered. “It’s not much, but just about all I have to offer you as thanks.”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“Metal-eater, your ragged breeches may not be the wisest gift to an artisan,” whispered Bjorn, recognizing the garment from its use on the way to the city. This viewpoint was evidently shared by the other artisans either forcing smiles or poking their doll-like head out to gawk with a less forced grin. The silence, and Clever’s snickering, were silenced by Smart’s reaching for it. The hooded artisan had divine, glassy eyes whose radiance were magnified by the glasses. She ran one of her four hands through the fabric, appraising the worth with a critical eye. It was certain that a pair of old jammy pants could not be valued as much as a magical sword, or an enchanted coat.
However, Smart was the gift-giving type, and it was evident that Willow was parting with what amounted to roughly a tenth of her possessions in this world. Not only that…
“I like the pattern,” murmured Smart, holding the pants to her chest with a smile, much to the surprise of everyone present, “We don’t want for much in our world, but kindness is something always looked for.”
Her fourth hand, the only one not occupied by a rambunctious sister trying to get a closer look at these pants and holding said pants away from her, gestured to what Willow currently wore. “So, what is your plan? Announce yourself in Diligence’s hall in nothing but your underwear and a torn robe?”
However, Smart was the gift-giving type, and it was evident that Willow was parting with what amounted to roughly a tenth of her possessions in this world. Not only that…
“I like the pattern,” murmured Smart, holding the pants to her chest with a smile, much to the surprise of everyone present, “We don’t want for much in our world, but kindness is something always looked for.”
Her fourth hand, the only one not occupied by a rambunctious sister trying to get a closer look at these pants and holding said pants away from her, gestured to what Willow currently wore. “So, what is your plan? Announce yourself in Diligence’s hall in nothing but your underwear and a torn robe?”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Willow’s shrug was complimented with a rather ambivalent look on her face as the notion didn’t seem to phase her.
“Figure I been running around like this for the last couple hours, not to mention heckling Mother Hen up in the tower. If it's good enough for traipsing ‘round the capital and harassing Prince Arm-ing, then it’s good enough for going and bumming some snacks off a black sheep. And hey, if I happen across a trouser hocker, I’ll be sure t’ peruse their wares. Keen?”
Truth be told, she would have preferred finding an actual shop to buy a real outfit from; but considering this worlds version of The One Percent meant people that wore adult sized clothes, she didn’t like her odds of finding clothes larger than Cabbage Patch at any of the local shops. Alas, she’d make due like she had during her first foray; a walking hodgepodge.
“Although, I could swipe somma your linens and rock a toga, I s’pose.”
“Figure I been running around like this for the last couple hours, not to mention heckling Mother Hen up in the tower. If it's good enough for traipsing ‘round the capital and harassing Prince Arm-ing, then it’s good enough for going and bumming some snacks off a black sheep. And hey, if I happen across a trouser hocker, I’ll be sure t’ peruse their wares. Keen?”
Truth be told, she would have preferred finding an actual shop to buy a real outfit from; but considering this worlds version of The One Percent meant people that wore adult sized clothes, she didn’t like her odds of finding clothes larger than Cabbage Patch at any of the local shops. Alas, she’d make due like she had during her first foray; a walking hodgepodge.
“Although, I could swipe somma your linens and rock a toga, I s’pose.”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“I’m sure you would be comfortable,” assured Smart, before lobbing her sister at Noble.
“Augh!” squealed Clever’s homunculus, “Catch-me-I’m-hardTOREPLACE!”
Noble received her, catching her head, solidly in his fist. The doll kicked around, before dislodging herself from his grasp. “I’m can still feel stuff, you clod!”
The Allomancer found Smart’s eyes remained on her, and the hand holding her sister free, she reached up to the edge of her jaw.
“You would be hard pressed to find something that fits you on short notice,” explained Smart, popping the edge of her face off of her head, and revealing an impossible glow clawing forth from underneath, “Being a human, you already have garments meant for you, that your mind has already made for you. You wore them when you dreamed. All they need is a way to find you.”
Once her face was fully free, Smart held the cracked mask in her hand, and Willow was beholden to the most brilliant light she had ever seen. The depth of which it sprung was infinite, and the Allomancer found herself succumbing to the feeling of falling in. She was stricken by a severe sense of vertigo, as her mind seemed to dive into the void that was opened. All she could see was the light.
Then, Smart placed her face back on, where it belonged, sealing the glow away. A comforting sense of gravity and stillness returned to Willow’s body, only to find her shoulders burdened by a different set of clothes. They were white, gold and radiant, like the light that had bathed her a moment ago, but they were a set that was most distinctly Willow. Of the futures she imagined herself saving the world or fighting alongside Ms. Smith, side-by-side, these were the clothes her dreams adorned her in.
“Augh!” squealed Clever’s homunculus, “Catch-me-I’m-hardTOREPLACE!”
Noble received her, catching her head, solidly in his fist. The doll kicked around, before dislodging herself from his grasp. “I’m can still feel stuff, you clod!”
The Allomancer found Smart’s eyes remained on her, and the hand holding her sister free, she reached up to the edge of her jaw.
“You would be hard pressed to find something that fits you on short notice,” explained Smart, popping the edge of her face off of her head, and revealing an impossible glow clawing forth from underneath, “Being a human, you already have garments meant for you, that your mind has already made for you. You wore them when you dreamed. All they need is a way to find you.”
Once her face was fully free, Smart held the cracked mask in her hand, and Willow was beholden to the most brilliant light she had ever seen. The depth of which it sprung was infinite, and the Allomancer found herself succumbing to the feeling of falling in. She was stricken by a severe sense of vertigo, as her mind seemed to dive into the void that was opened. All she could see was the light.
Then, Smart placed her face back on, where it belonged, sealing the glow away. A comforting sense of gravity and stillness returned to Willow’s body, only to find her shoulders burdened by a different set of clothes. They were white, gold and radiant, like the light that had bathed her a moment ago, but they were a set that was most distinctly Willow. Of the futures she imagined herself saving the world or fighting alongside Ms. Smith, side-by-side, these were the clothes her dreams adorned her in.
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“Mind clothes? Would they be real clothes? Or just illusions? Cause while I’m fine running all about like this, I ain’t keen on running around nekkid and thinking I’m dressed.” Willow had cocked an eyebrow at Smart, and a slight smirk had grown on her face as she watched the antics of the artisans. This of course drifted to an absentminded stare as she looked at Smart. Vertigo was a weird sensation that proved how much she took having access to Pewter for granted. With all the aerial business she’d been up to since starting to practice her abilities, she’d almost forgotten about vertigo. Guess there’s something to be said about face voids and them staring back at you.
“So when you say they need to find me, how do you mean? I ain’t ‘xactly been subtle runnin’ ‘round town here. ‘at’n I slept for two whole weeks. If my dream clothes can’t find me then they are worse with directions than I am.”
“So when you say they need to find me, how do you mean? I ain’t ‘xactly been subtle runnin’ ‘round town here. ‘at’n I slept for two whole weeks. If my dream clothes can’t find me then they are worse with directions than I am.”