On a calm, weekend morning, Adela awoke, got dressed, had her coffee, and ventured out to meet with her beloved Kiara. Adela strolled down the rather empty cobblestone street towards the ‘Flapalot’ cafe where Kiara was to be waiting for her. The weather was pleasant. Gentle morning breeze ruffling her hair, rays of morning sun caressing her skin. She walked into the cafe with a smile, that grew ever wider when she saw her loved 1 sitting at the table closest to the entrance.
Kiara jumped up excitedly, bumping the table, spilling the 2 steaming cups of coffee in the process, then shrieked, gasped, and took a step back – “Ahhh!! No no! Ahhh! I’m sorry!!” Adela chuckled, walked up to the table, grabbed some napkins, and tossed them over the spillage. A waitress was quick to run up to them – “I’ll handle it don’t worry.” A moment later, another surprised shriek – “AAHHH! NOO! THE GIFT” exclaimed Kiara as she rushed to the chair.
She grabbed a slightly soaked with coffee, gift paper wrapper object. Her expression turned rather sad as she looked down at the floor – “I..i’ll give it to you later, I’ll have to clean it first” Adela shrugged. (Will she grab the gift and open it up despite the stain? Or leave it in Kiara’s hands until she decides to gift it to her loved one?)
*****Audience Input*****
M’iyu Fhey: what, dont just grab a gift from someones hand, thats rude
M’iyu Fhey: even if its for you
Crashh Boi: hmmm yeah don’t snatch gifts, wait
Leona Lucifra: Well for some without milk Silas, to avoid flappulences.
Lunamana Zhongxin: That would be quite rude
Leona Lucifra: I say grab the gift
Presea Diamond: Who care about a bi of coffee, but yea don’ take it like that in her hands
Kiki Ze’niki: Naah, id respect my loved one and let them do it when they feel happy to give it. 🙂 Alanis Ze’niki: who can ever say no to a gift. i would always open
Nynu Teez: hmm Why doesn’t she try to convince her to give it stained! It’s a bit more polite than just grabbing it Lunamana Zhongxin: Agree with nynu there! I think they can come to an agreement >w<
**********
Unbeknownst to Adela and Kiara, but knownst to us, now, Kiara did not bump the table hard enough to cause spillage. In fact, under the table, clinging to the underside of it, was a dragon, a small, mean-looking dragon. It poked its head from under the tablecloth, its gaze fixated on the gift-paper-wrapped object. Adela smiled warmly at Kiara – “Come, darling, I don’t care if it’s stained if it’s a gift from you”.
Kiara hesitated for a moment and then shook her head – “n..no.. I wish it to be in pristine condition” Kiara frowned, and while usually sweet, Adela knew better than to argue with an angry au’ra with pointy horns. “Fine fine, I’ll be patient, but just for your” She leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Kiara’s forehead.
The cute au’ra blushed and looked away, holding the wrapped gift tightly – “..n..not in public! It’s embarrassing!” Adela chuckled warmly, but her chuckle was interrupted by the waitress – “I’ve replaced the tablecloth and will bring you 2 fresh cups of coffee in a moment. “Well then?” spoke Adela. Kiara nodded and headed for the table – “yeah, let’s enjoy our morning date” As the 2 sat down, Adela caught motion in her peripheral vision. She snapped her head and looked in the direction where she thought she saw something moving. As if a small shape quickly jumped from under their table and then hid in the shadows of the pillar a meter away. She squinted, then lowered herself and looked under the table, lifting the tablecloth out of the way, as expected, there was nothing. She shrugged. “All good?” asked Kiara – “yea… just thought I saw something, it’s nothing” The 2 finished their morning coffee and breakfast and ventured out to… (Where shall they go? Pier? Forest? Shopping? Or something / somewhere else?)
*****Audience Input*****
Misuzu Takane: Well…I’d say a love hotel, but you already know my mind is in the gutter.
Lunamana Zhongxin: Pier ;3
M’iyu Fhey: a pier AND a forest in walking distance, damn is this some vacation place?
Presea Diamond: Let’s go to a museum!
Ashlandis Kahkol: hmmm looking for the shape?
Atheris Hispida: Taking a walk to a pier sounds nice.
Leona Lucifra: A pier sounds like a lovely place for a date, though if “not in public” has any meaning to it, mayhap the forest would be a good place as well?
Apsalar Tali: Pier sounds nice
Kiki Ze’niki: I’d love for them to go to the forest and smell pine trees, hearing the sound of twigs as they step on them..
Nynu Teez: I love the pier! taking a stroll next to the sea is super nice
M’iyu Fhey: nothing good ever happens in forsts when in WT tho
Misuzu Takane: Murder is good.
Lunamana Zhongxin: Exactly! Let’s go with pier! >_<
Alanis Ze’niki: Being from the Far East i found nothing more romantic than strolling through the forest. Hand in hand taking in the sweet smells of the flowers.
Silas Amaren: The forest is tranquility, so maybe after such an eventfull start to the day it might be best to calm down.
**********
“Where to now?” Asked Adela with an obvious hint of knowing where to go next. Kiara grinned at her – “I have an idea too.. Let’s speak it on count of 3 and see if we thought the same thing?” Adela counted “1..2..” “PIERFOREST” spoke 3 voices simultaneously. Kiara looked around – “Who was that?” Adela’s gaze wandered the rather empty street around them – “i heard it too…” but nobody else was seemingly around. The 2 agreed to go to the pier to continue their lovely weekend date.
At the pier, the wind was stronger. It raffled their hair, messing it up and making the 2 chuckle and tease each other about looking silly with messed up hair. The 2 enjoyed the calming sound of the waves crashing against the pier. They enjoyed this calm blissful moment for an hour. “Say, why don’t we go on a journey? I’ve still a week off before the next expedition.” Kiara leaned against Adela, letting out a gentle sigh – “yes, I would love that very much. Some time alone with you, I almost never get that..” Adela smiled a weary smile with a hint of sadness – “I know love.. Sorry” Kiara grinned – “well you won’t be able to run away from me on a cruise!!” Adela chuckled – “Oh and I thought about hiring a pirate crew to give us a tour! Or maybe join some merchant schooner?” And so the 2 are unsure which vessel to take. What do you all propose?
*****Audience Input*****
Leona Lucifra: A pirate crew giving them a tour sounds a bit dangerous, even for them, no?
Tain Teez: pirates… obviously the pirates…
Nynu Teez: hmm I don’t like the pirate idea…
Vikiridi Mikwel: well i mean! it’d be adventurous especially if they start plundering and raiding!
Leona Lucifra: They aren’t acquainted with a pirate crew by chance, i take it?
Nynu Teez: but Merchants do attract pirates as well
Orlena Frex: I may have missed it – but we are in Nayla, aren’t we?
Atheris Hispida: One spontaneous trip turned into a weekly attendance for me, and I wouldn’t want it any other way..
Orlena Frex: That cheeky captain Levy…
Nynu Teez: So maybe going with the Pirate crew in the first place is the right call
Crashh Boi: pirates are always trustworthy
Atheris Hispida: Pirates haven’t been terribly bad in your stories so far, so that is a lot safer than it sounds.
**********
Kiara hesitated – “P..pirates? Are you out of your mind?” Adela grinned – “no, but YOU make me lose my mind my love. Anyway, come! Come come! I know just the crew to make this a memorable trip! Where do you wish to go by the way?” Kiara’s eyes widened – “I uhh..” Adela pulled her by the hand – “A trip to the Safsea! On the other side of the ocean!” Kiara only let out a nervous whimper as she got pulled by Adela.
Shortly after, they were running up the main pier towards a raggedy ship, an airship at that, docked at the dock in the water, these hybrid ships made excellent vessels for fairing the seas. When the weather was bad they could land and sail through the storm, but when the weather is clear, set up for the skies and reach for the clouds. Hybrid airships became quite popular by pirates due to their versatility, but quite unusable by the merchants due to limited weight carrying capacity.
Kiara gasped at the sight of the rusted, raggedy, banged-up, and weather-worn vessel before them. It squeaked as it swayed and rocked gently on the waves at the pier. The crew, however, to Kiara’s surprise, seemed rather normal. They were well dressed (well probably from recently robbing some merchant or cruise ship) and were talking in a normal tone to each other, but the topics of their discussions were a different matter entirely.
“And then she yeeted herself off ye mast!” called out 1 pirate standing on the handrailing of the ship hanging onto the rope to keep his balance “Zo vi planning to raid the Nayla?” “Only a FOOL WOULD EVEN SAY THAT” cried out another crew member few meters away from the 1 that mentioned Nayla. Adela walked up the boarding plank, still dragging Kiara along – “Relax, they’re good guys!” Kiara smiled nervously – “A..about as good as a group of … thugs and bandits” The silence befell as the crew overheard her statement – “Zorry missy buts vi are gud pirates! Vi hunt only ze rich!” a moment of silence was followed by wild laughter coming from every crew member on the ship. Like a pack of hyenas closing in on their prey, the crew quickly blocked the plank on which the 2 that barged in onto their turf stood still. “Uhmm..” whimpered out Kiara just to be silenced by Adela.
Adela swiftly pulled out a golden coin, but no ordinary coin, it was large and had strange symbols on it. Before the crew could get a good look at it, as if something slammed the side of her forearm, followed by a quiet ‘blub’ the coin fell into the water. Adela looked off the gangplank and smiled nervously – “that was a uh… your captain would know what that was..” Kiara gasped and took a step closer to the edge, looking down where the coin fell, her foot slipped, and with a louder ‘SPLOOSH’ and a surprised shriek, Kiara landed in the water below. Adela gasped – “And that was my future wife!” she hesitated jumping into the water after her, while the rest of the crew observed with a surprising amount of amusement as at first: 2 strangers barge onto their ship, then lose their presumed means of not getting kidnapped, and then, fall into the water.
“Vell mizzy? Ya jumping? Or shud I?” Adela’s expression, could best be described as ‘if you as much as look at my now wet wife I will be sure to tie you to this very ship, hijack it, and drag you face-first through all the waves for the next week.’ The pirate with a funny accent gulped – “i.. P..pleaze save your wife” But will Adela jump in? or demand the funny accent pirate to save her wife? or just wait for her to come out on her own?
*****Audience Input*****
Presea Diamond: I would already be in the water
Lunamana Zhongxin: Mhm, of course she’s jumping in.
Atheris Hispida: That pirate is easily intimidated. I’d say she can make him jump into the water.
Crashh Boi: i’d be going in after her
Misuzu Takane: The real question is, which one of them knows how to swim?
Ashlandis Kahkol: we might never know
**********
Before jumping in Adela took a deep breath. In the corner of her eye she caught a small shape slithering its way past the distracted and amused crew. No larger than a rat in size. She leaped off the plank into the water, diving in to find her loved one, graciously swimming in the water, enjoying it like a playful child, forgetting apparently that she just fell off the plank and made Adela nervous. She frowned, gestured for her to go up, and then dove down in search of the coin. She did not find it.
Upon surfacing, climbing up the ladder and making her way back to the ship, she was greeted by the captain of the vessel – “Ahoy! I’m Leeroy! Captain of this glorious..” he looked over his shoulder at the raggedy, rusty, squeaking and creaking ship – “Captain of the.. Legendary.. U..” one of the crew members from the back shouted – “Uraine!” captain nodded – “Urine!” Adela raised her eyebrow – “so.. Uraine … or urine?” Captain turned and stared at the crew – “Alright whichever 1 of you just shouted will be hung by the big toes off the mast for 30 minutes!” A surprised gasp, a pleading ‘Noo please’ and then a slight commotion later, someone got dragged off. He turned and nodded – “with that out of the way.. Welcome aboard the Uraine, lads told me you had a coin?” Kiara pulled on Adela’s hand – “D..dear.. What was that coin?” Adela shrugged – “I don’t know, got it from some lion man dude one day he said it’ll grant me a favor from any pirate crew in these lands..” She turned and smiled – “I uhh, will present it after you grant us the favor” The captain squinted at her – “what was the name of that lion man?”
Adela scratched her head looking onto the water – “uh.. Leeroy.. No \erhm.. Lorein..l’oreal.. Lemon.. No it was short” “Lake..love..lem…” she continued going through the names which began to irritate Leeroy – “Levi?? Was it Levi?” Adela turned and nodded – “That’s the bastard! I mean.. The kind guy that totally didn’t try to rob us until he got slapped by..” she was interrupted by Kiara – “YOU GOT ROBBED?” Adela shrugged – “it was a long time ago!” Kiara groaned – “You never told me that!” “Yeah well you dind’t tell me..” their quarrel was interrupted by a loud sigh – “Alr..” Kiara turned and hissed at him – “No! Hush! I need her to tell me this!” Adela sighed – “look, he didn’t even take anything because..” “SET SAIL FULL SPEED AHEAD” shouted the captain while the crew slowly pulled the plank back onto the ship, bringing onboard the 2 quarreling lovers.
Some time passed, most of the crew were in their quarters, hiding heads under pillows in order to muffle out the quarreling at the deck. “Alright i’ma just go home to grab some clothes bef…” Adela looked at the distancing port, slowly becoming smaller and smaller as the ship sailed onwards – “a…are we sailing?” Kiara turned and chuckled – “we’ve been sailing for a while now my love.” After talking with the captain and setting the course, Adela and Kiara were given a private quarters room, one where the cook would normally live. Unhappy about it the cook swore to feed them the opposite of what they’d prefer to eat. ‘Oh you want chicken? We’re all out, gonna have to eat some pork today! Oh what? You desire rice? Unfortunately, we’re down to only cheese’ mumbled to himself the angry cook while cooking up fried rice and chicken..
At last, on that evening, Kiara walked out of the bathroom, holding something behind her back – “I.. d..darling?” Adela raised her gaze from the book and looked at her beloved au’ra, smiling warmly – “Yes?” Kiara walked up to her and presented her with an antiqued, brass jewel case. It was old but the craftsmanship was truly stunning. Hand carved, decorated with gems of various colors and worth, it was truly a masterpiece worthy of a central spot in a museum “My, where did you get something like this?” Kiara looked away nervously, obviously hiding something – “i uhhm.. Th..there was this merchant, he brought it from offshore.. It wasn’t that expensive, apparently, these come aplenty in eastern kingdoms.” Adela smiled, noticing the obvious nervousness but decided against prompting her any further ‘everybody has secrets’ thought she to herself.
She pressed a ruby in the middle, which was the button. A barely audible ‘click’ echoed through the room, and the lid swung open. The whirr of the machines came on and the whole vessel shook “CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF” shouted the captain, his voice muffled by the whirr. The balloons inflated, the propellers changed direction. The ship shook and rumbled as it slowly took flight. Creaking and squeaking, the vibrations and the sudden jerk caused Adela to drop the jewel box.
As it hit the metal floor, 1 of the gems on the corner fell off, a small shape seemingly moved in the shadows by the bed. The gem rolled as the ship suddenly pitched, and fell into the water drain port in the corner of the room. Adela jumped up to catch Kiara who almost fell over and smiled at her “What the hell are those imbeciles doing? What if you got hurt?” visible anger on her face, but Kiara just shook her head – “no, it’s fine, the box!” Adela glanced at the floor, and then the corner of the bed where she thought she saw a shape. It was empty there – “it’s fine” After sitting down and picking up the box, examining it for damage, Kiara gasped – “Oh no..”
Adela instinctively gasped but replied in a more curious tone – “oh..no?? Why no? It’s just a small gem” Kiara shook her head – “no! I mean yes.. Uhm..” “yes love?” replied Adela in a demanding tone – “Well you see.. It’s not ‘just’ a box to store jewelry in” Adela nodded – “right, it’s a precious gift from you” Kiara smiled – “yes! But no. It’s an artifact that contained within it a spirit of luck” Adela raised her eyebrow – “so it’s a .. good luck charm of sorts?” Kiara shook her head again – “no! It’s more, it’d actively bring luck to its owner and the gems were the seal.. With 1 missing, the spirit is lose” Adela chuckled nervously – “that’s pretty silly.. You’re just pulling my ears, right?” Kiara looked up at Adela’s ear “much as I like doing that, no I’m not” Adela blinked a few times – “So.. now it won’t work?” Kiara groaned – “Not unless we find that gem!” And so the search began, but the gem was no longer in the water drain pipe. They searched where the pipe would come out but seemingly the gem was gone. Still, they searched for the beautiful, sky-blue gem.
“Can’t we just replace the gem?” asked Adela while looking around the deck. The vessel, slowly gained altitude, flying confidently towards the setting sun. Kiara sighed – “No, it’s a special moon-stone enchanted by a wizard” Adela shrugged – “so then, this spirit of luck is now lost? What does it mean?” Kiara tapped the railing “Technically that means it’s now roaming the ship to bring about random luck? I guess..” Where shall they search next? Canteen? The machinery and engineer compartment? Ask the crew? Or something else?
*****Audience Input*****
Nagisa Shokushu: Canteen I’m all for food!
Crashh Boi: search the canteen first then the engines
Atheris Hispida: I doubt that telling the pirates about a gem is a good idea.
Leona Lucifra: I tend to agree with Atheris here.
Nynu Teez: Search the canteen
**********
And so they made it to the canteen, where they were forcefully given 2 plates with fried rice and chicken by the crew who were having their meal. Kiara seemingly stepped on something sound, lost her balance, and almost tripped, but simultaneously, the ship rolled to the side to counter her fall, she caught her balance, but the crashing of a few plates reminded her that not everyone got quite so lucky, including Adela who was sitting against the wall, covered in fried rice.
As Adela stormed out of the canteen to go take a shower, Kiara followed her. The door began to close onto Adela’s hand. Kiara tried to reach for it to stop it but she was not fast enough, out of nowhere, however, a hand appeared and caught the door. Leeroy pulled the door open and smiled – “sheesh, be careful lasses” She went to take a shower but the boiler had broken down. Fortunately for her there was just enough water left in the boiler for her to enjoy the warm shower. Random events of seemingly something trying to cause misfortune and unfortunate incidents kept happening and being canceled out by random luck. That night the propellers broke, but the wind just so happened to push them in the right direction. They sailed past a storm without need to descend.
The oil pan burst and they lost the majority of their engine oil, however fortunately for them, crew that was to dispose of old oil slacked, and the barrels with old oil were still aboard. They saw a merchant ship that was guarded by a navy vessel, but the vessel got swarmed by vampire-bats. The crew of Uriaine had a chance to raid the merchant ship thanks to that.
On day 3 of their journey filled with fortune and misfortune, the vessel landed and sailed on water the rest of the way, during their landing, 1 of the balloons popped and the vessel veered off to the side, landing on coral reefs, puncturing the hull and taking on water. Fortunately for them it was in the empty cargo compartment, they were able to quickly seal off the compartment to handle the repairs in the port.
At the port of Safsea, something tried to push Kiara off the plank once more, however, Adela, fed up with the overly exciting journey, reacted just in time and caught the culprit of misfortunes. She held before her, at an extended arm’s length, by the tail, a tiny dragon – “LET! GO!” demanded the creature, but Adela wasn’t having it – “So you’re the rat I kept seeing lurking about in the shadows?” Kiara stared at the creature with amusement – “whoa, never seen 1 quite so small.” The dragon growled, or, it tried to, instead, its growl resembled a peep of a mouse. Its size no larger than a medium-sized rat. Adela glared at it – “Now tell us why did you keep pestering us all this time?”
The dragon squeaked – “I am.. A dragon! And we dragons like treasures! Your woman here, possesses treasure that my kin had in possession for generations” Adela turned to glance at Kiara who nervously looked away – “I.. uh.. D..don’t know what he’s talking about” The dragon sneered and spat out a plume of smoke that failed to ignite, coughed, and then squeaked again – “Release me! It’s.. unpleasant to hang by the tail you silly rabbit woman!” Adela sighed and dropped the dragon, who extended his wings, glided down, and then in a swift arc flew up and lanced on Kiara’s head – “I am CAIN!” Adela frowned – “I don’t care, go on…” The dragon puffed up – “The jeweled box of fortune is our clan’s greatest treasure.. That was stolen from us” he squinted and arced his long neck to look into Kiara’s eye – “By a CERTAIN EVIL GIANT LIZARD THAT ATTACKED US!” Adela blinked a few times – “Kiara..?”
The nervous au’ra girl looked to the side – “l..look… their cave was empty, I heard of mythical artifacts stored within a certain volcano and went there to find 1 that sounded most appealing. It was no easy task but along with a few adventurers we made it there.. And I found the brass jewel case!” defending herself.
Adela sighed – “and so you had this.. Evil bugger chasing you this entire time all for that box?” The dragon coughed – “Evil bugger? I’ll have you know I am the mightiest in my clan! The EVIL CAIN” Adela flicked him on the head gently with her finger – “yea yea darkness himself, sire evil overlord and all that” So then, will Adela return the box to the rightful owner? Or keep her lover’s gift and bring upon themselves the anger of the.. Midget dragons?
*****Audience Input*****
Orlena Frex: Sounds like an opportunity to lure in tons of midget dragons and sell them pricey as pets, no?
Leona Lucifra: I don’t know, they do sound annoying though.
Misuzu Takane: I’ll have you know though I’m a Seeker, not a Keeper
Atheris Hispida: A swarm of those could be truly bothersome.
Leona Lucifra: Well, I am not sure if a stolen artifact is a decent gift for your beloved. I certainly wouldn’t want it.
Alanis Ze’niki: creatures like dragons must be respected. They are mythical, strong and wise.
Orlena Frex: B-but but but the profit?!
Lunamana Zhongxin: Stealing isn’t profit >_<
Atheris Hispida: Are you sure you can make profit with those dragons?
M’iyu Fhey: Realistically we steal other peoples stuff from their homes all the times as WoL….
Vikiridi Mikwel: True!
Leona Lucifra: This one sounds more like an oversized bird, so “strong” wouldn’t exactly cut it. But if my partner would gift me something they had stolen and not earned, I would be pretty much done with them. And they with their fingers.
Kvasaari Catalis: “Dragons are proud, and creatures to respected”
Presea Diamond: This “lucky box” is just a source of trouble if you ask me
Leona Lucifra: M’iyu, what do you mean? My retainer surely brought me that roof and the fence with the owner’s permission!
M’iyu Fhey: HEy she earned it! she went there and gt it, not her fault no one was around…can’t be that much fo a precious artifact to them
**********
After a moment of consideration, Adela chose to return the box to the tiny dragons. Cain returned the gem that rightfully belonged to the box and the trio successfully re-captured the spirit of luck returning it to the box. The decision to return the artifact granted Kiara and Adela favor of the ‘thundercloud mount dragon clan’. Small as they may be, they proved to be quite handy as guides, personal assistants and scouts for Adela in her future expeditions.
Years passed and the small dragons became capable allies in the upcoming conflict, and in saving a certain chef that was on a trial of bravery, who so happened to have stumbled upon Kiara and Adela during his journeys, while being chased, by thousands of angry wasps. The dragons in turn got a meal from it.
spare ribs cupim alcatra burgdoggen pork chop buffalo hamburger. Bacon pork tri-tip frankfurter venison tenderloin drumstick shankle. Hamburger biltong ham hock, frankfurter bacon brisket picanha jerky chislic kielbasa pig buffalo capicola doner drumstick. Alcatra jerky cupim boudin pork tri-tip.
Meatloaf bacon ground round, cow bresaola jowl turkey kevin. Turkey tongue boudin picanha kielbasa porchetta salami. Bacon meatball leberkas shoulder. Kevin bresaola tongue beef ribs pastrami. Kielbasa doner salami tail sirloin pork buffalo chuck cupim t-bone prosciutto.
Tri-tip beef burgdoggen cupim, andouille leberkas meatloaf shankle sausage sirloin biltong ball tip pastrami. Pork tenderloin shank, corned beef beef ribs cupim meatloaf prosciutto boudin spare ribs shankle. Buffalo pork loin drumstick, picanha pastrami sausage andouille meatloaf bresaola filet mignon chuck pork chop fatback turducken flank. Picanha pork belly pork loin ball tip spare ribs brisket jerky meatball filet mignon shank beef ribs bacon burgdoggen turducken.
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