Rainblade-Ryalors Open Vulpinsula & Surroundings Westisle Cultural Appreciation Day

[Kal Goldtail]

@Tal'Rakan

Kal was less so comfortable with attention that the lynx was drawing to them, but she only sighed ever so slightly and perked back up. They were all looking at him, not at her, after all. And oh boy, was there a lot to look at, with feathers, size and presence of the beast. She laughed, somewhat nervously at the question directed at her.

"Well, I'm Kal. Not really anybeast important, I'm afraid. Sorry to disappoint." She looked at the mentioned parade. "Um, truthfully, I don' know. May be worth askin' someone lookin' more knowledgeable." She noticed some beasts slightly showing away from the claw. "Oh, right, you seem to be fightin' with claws, sir. That is very interesting, is that common for your people. And, well, about Phoenixes - sorry to ask - are there really Phoenix beasts out there?"

 

[Tal'Rakan]

@Kal Goldtail

The lynx didn't show displeasure. Albeit he was a bit bummed. Without access to any local libraries or archives, he and his beasts had to rely on anything the locals could share with them. At the question, his face became very serious. "Phoenixes are divine preinkhs, no mere preasts. The ones that came to khuide and lead us, take forms closer to ours so we, mere preasts, may comprehend them."

That was sufficient in his mind. No need to question the divine was in Tal'Rakan's mind. He did lighten up, moving to the next topic.

"War Claws are difficult weapon, prut one we can naturally wield, relyinkh on instincts to fikht alonkhside the traininkh. Those are common amonkh the most offensive of our soldiers." He explained while gesturing around with his paw while having his natural claws extended, moving them through the air as if trying to rip something.

After that, he chuckled. "I respect you tryinkh to work around the marital aspects. Prut I am curious in knowinkh why this festivity even is here."

 

[Aramaeus Lemon]

Aramaeus opened his mouth, then shut it. It occurred to him that going to such an event, or even accepting an invitation to one, was a perfect thing to use as blackmail. If he was going to be dealing with this femme, Niceties or no, perhaps he should adopt a nom de guerre. "My name is Antony Goldfur," he introduced himself, offering his paw, oblivious to the fact that, peeking out behind a peony he'd stuck in his lapel, a monogram on his maroon coat clearly identified him as Aramaeus Lemon, Ministry of Justice.

~~~

Marianna nuzzled Ivo's cheek with her snout as the attendant, unshakeable in the face of the lovebirds' affections. The ritual involved bringing the water to a boil several times, pouring it out over the clay cups and platters into a bamboo box below, including one with the initial boil of the tea which as also poured out - all of which, the attendant assured them, was in preparation for the correct brewing of the tea. Finally, the cups were filled with the aromatic tea and set in front of the pair of foxes.

Marianna carefully sipped at her cup, her eyebrows raising in surprise. "Alright," she admitted, "that is a very delightful cup of tea. It almost tastes like there's fruit and honey in there. What do you think, Ivo?" She looked to him for his opinion.

~~~

Mileya's pawfingers missed a string as Asta asked after her kithood, and it took her a second to recover. "It... It was different," she said at last. "When we lived here, in Bully Harbor, with Vaelora - our adoptive mother," she clarified, "it was very free, very cozy. We grew up in the Trenches, we saw the city around us. Even if we were princes and a princess, she raised us not to see ourselves as better, different, or separate from everyone else. It wasn't like that after her death, in Eastisle." Her voice almost sounded haunted. "My uncle... he was a very sad todd. He always has been. Even with my Aunt Dusk there, even when my cousins were born, when he was surrounded by family, he always had that sadness about him." She smiled, a touch melancholic herself, as she reflected. "I didn't really understand that until I was grown up. I realized that it wasn't sadness because of what he'd lost, but because he'd trusted beasts, and he'd been hurt because of it. After all that, it's hard for him to trust anyone. I guess I understand that now."

~~~

As Caden held down the rat, Daniil gripped his mother's blade. The pleading of the young doe rang in his ears, a child begging for their father figure's life. He raised the sharp curve of the blade, placing it against the buck's throat. "I trusted you in my moment of need," he stated. "You betrayed that trust. That must be punished."

He tilted the blade, and he brought it up sharply. The very tips of the rat's whiskers fell free, drifting to the ground. Daniil sheathed his blade, looking at the buck in disappointment. "Do better for her," he implored him, gesturing to the youngster. "Even if life requires you to behave criminally, you can still behave with honesty and honor. Demonstrate to her what that looks like, less your actions rob her of another father."

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo tasted the tea. And while he couldn't say it was bad, it was too delicate for him. He liked stronger flavours for sure, but there was something to being here with Marianna that made the moment itself sweeter. He ran over the whole ceremonial again, glad he could see it, making sure to draw it later so he can do it on his own to surprise his love at some day. After that, he registered her voice.

"Well... It's good, but me think I could add sum cloves maybe t' really get 'em more sharp." He admitted, spotting that their attendant mouth twitched. "But I'll keep in mind ya like it so I can get sum fer ya for special occasion." He winked, emboldened by the previous joke and her reaction. However he decided not to go any further with it. Even subtle, but repetitive attempts, could get tiring quickly.

Some time have passed as he continued to cuddle while consuming the tea. As it run dry, he had one more question to Marianna. "Wanted t' visit a stall with 'em weapons. Mind if we go there next? I saw a thing on t' way I may have sum use for."