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Bright Journey	Well. The decor of this restaurant certainly is...catchy. Bright Journey is sitting at one of the tables at the Wonders of Chiaroscuro, a South-themed place with "authentic Southern cuisine". At least the menu says so. As it happens, the smells are actually pretty tantalizing, but the gaudy kitsch of the decor is surely too much for anyone actually hailing from the Burning Sands. Then again, that's how it is in Great Forks: Everything has to be bigger and better, authenticity or no. Bright has the aforementioned menu in hand, a goblet of mulled wine in the other, and a thoughtful look on her face as she's waiting for the others to arrive. It's a quiet evening in Great Forks; a rare occasion the grey clouds overhead enhance a bit as the place is maybe only half full.
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk Moon Lotus passes by many of her favorite little cafes for the one hat Bright insisted they try our as it is authentic Southern cuisne. After spying the location, she is curious if the food in authentic or just lamb in strange sauces again. Skin glides over to Bright's table. She gestures to one of the servers she recognizes from a few nights ago working a different location. They return a nod of acknowledgement as she slides into a seat next to Bright. "An interesting place you have chosen today. Trying to adjust to the cuisine?"
Ignis	"My travels have yet to take me in the direction of THe South and Chiaroscuro..and if this is any indication of what it looks like then I'm not sure that I should.." Ignis' voice should e more then familiar to now to both Silk Moon and Bright. They've fought together. They've fought each other. And all the other assorted happenings inbetween. His words preceeds his visual presence as he approaches her table from behind, though Silk may have sight of him now and undougtly both could have been easily aware of him given their preternatural senses and abilities. Not like he was trying to hide. He reaches down and plucks a menu up from a nearby table to studio it while asking, "Do you ladies mind if I join you? Some interesting company before I leave for Nexus is always appreciated."
Raullaur	Raullaur comes in to the eatery, for once unarmed and just in his usual outfit of silk and leather. He looks around as he does so, and then sees the three faces he recognizes, and comes to join them. "Greetings," he rumbles. "I hope things are going well for you all? And what, if anything might I do for you...after we eat. The sauces and spices smell good, if a bit strange."
Bright Journey	Bright manages to look a bit rueful as Silk walks in, the expression comical coming from behind the menu. She looks bemused, though, taking the ribbing in stride and gestures to the watch-the-whole-room seat she knows Silk is going to want to take. "Well, I won't admit to anything in front of a magistrate, you understand, but if you held a knife to me I -might- let slip that I only judged by the smell walking by. I didn't actually look in the place, which should be obvious as I never came home blinded. Anyway," Bright grins cheekily, holding up the menu, "I'll pick something--if I knew what half this stuff was--and we'll see what the place is really worth." Ignis approaches next, and Bright leans to one side to look him in the eye. "Well! Ignis, as I live and breathe. Well met, my dear, and of course you're welcome." She turns briefly to Silk. "See, this is exactly why I wanted to do this at a restaurant. No reason we have to discuss this in a -prison-, for once, and I haven't seen Ignis in ages." Well, it's been a few months, anyway. Bright turns back to Ignis, grinning. "Have a seat, why don't you. And I want to hear what's going on in Nexus, too..." A cloud briefly covers Bright's normally shining face. "I haven't been there since I was a little girl, but the truth is, I have a bit of unfinished business there. Maybe." She frowns for a moment but Raullaur's entrance forestalls whatever else she might have said. "Aha! Good to see you again, Raullaur. Well met. Did you get in touch with Rishi?"
Silk Moon Lotus	"Well, the evening out has certainly gotten more interesting." Silk smiles warmly for both of her friends. "I hope the food is better then the decorations. I recognize a few of the staff here from other places I visit. The are good at their profession so I have some faith in the food." Silk looks at the menu for a moment then points to an item. "That looks interesting. I wonder what phaal curry is, sounds interesting."
Ignis	"We something in common there, then, Bright. Where Nexus is concerned." remarks Ignis as he takes a seat comfortably and leans back in it, balancing casually on its back legs for a moment or two, "..I spent a good portion of my early life running and roaming and running those filthy streets from one gang to another until I robbed the wrong guy. Things worked out for the better in the end but that can't often be said for many who are stuck in that place.. But yes I've some business of my own to look into there.." He gives Silk a smile as well before flicking his wrist up and looks over the menu rapidly while arcing an eyebrow in thought. "So competent service at least. It the food all certainly sounds interesting.."
Ignis	Ignis lowers the menu to look in the direction of the massive lion man, "And hello to you Raullaur. Did you ever find a worthy match in the Arena?"
Raullaur	Raullaur shakes his head, first to Bright Star, then to Ignis. "No, and no," he replies before sitting with the other three, and /not/ picking up a menu. "I was hoping to meet with Rishi tonight, and no match in the arena, though when Amethyst and I fought, it ended up a stalemate with us going all out." His tail lashes a bit behind him, and he looks a bit testless.
Bright Journey	Bright gives Silk a quick grin. "Well, I thought I recognized one, but I have to admit I wasn't sure until you said anything. Odd that they're in multiple places." She smirks and flips her hair back. "They can't get enough of us. Or they're spying on us very poorly." She looks at Ignis and nods, slowly. "I...don't talk about that much, I admit, but the truth is I'm not the same little girl who moved away from there years ago, and not the same teenager that feared what we left behind." She gets a faraway look for a moment, and takes a swig of wine. "I...well. I know my father is from there, and he's a god of some importance in the city. But I never met him, and mum never talked about him, you know? So while I have unfinished business, so to speak...it's unlikely I'll ever be able to address it. And really, it's all right. I hardly need him to validate myself." She looks at Raullaur, worried. "Well, I'm not sure whether Rishi is coming or not, to be honest. I didn't get a response, but the truth is I rarely do if it's not urgent. You know how she is."
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk chuckles at Bright's jest. "They people who are in high demand. The owners bid for their services by the month normally. Some take new contracts weekly. A few of them even work for me and I let them keep their earnings in addition to what I pay them." The young man who Silk gestured to previously brings over three more wine glasses and two bottles of wine. He sets them on the table and leaves with something several bills larger than the drinks cost. Silk pours herself a generous portion and toasts her friends "The our lives before this one." Silk take a thoughtful drink from her glass and gestures to Ignis "I have never been to Nexus except passing through. It was too crowded for me and a little closer to Lookshy than I am comfortable."
Ignis	"A Scavenger Lord of some reputation, skill, and connections, took me off the streets. Possibly because it amused him. Possibly because he was manipulated into doing so by my actual tutor. I can never be sure. What time I spent on the streets shaped me but my path was changed. I don't take it lightly.." His voice trails off and he then smiles and nods to Silk, "You're not wrong. Nexus is possibly the largest city in Creation and that brings with it a host of problems. It's chaotic, confusing and has a host of names to describe it and most are unflattering and should not be uttered around good company."
Raullaur	Raullaur nods and listens to the others, not knowing anything of Nexus, or Ignis, but simply listening and learning. To Bright Journey, he gives a nod. "Not so much. But I hope to et to know people better here." He takes a bottle and pours some for himself as well, in a shallow bowl rather than a cup, but joins Silk's toast, before drinking.
Bright Journey	Bright looks inordinately amused at Silk's description of what all those waitresses and busboys are actually doing. She giggles and takes another long swig of wine. "Oh. Oh, my, Silk. Really, you catch me out every time! Every time I joke that something sneaky is happening and we should be careful...something sneaky is happening. And you're -doing- it. Someday I will actually learn." Bright shakes her head, smiling, and glances at the menu once more, but really, the conversation is more interesting now. She raises her glass and toasts Silk right back. "To our old lives, my dear. May they give us the strength to move on. Even if, in my case, it was just a good example of what not to do." She grins and drinks the last of her goblet. Bright looks at Ignis and nods, grinning at him. "Not a bad way to put Nexus, from everything I know. I was really a bit young to remember it well myself, but...yeah. And you can use all the bad words you want, Ignis." She giggles again, hand covering her mouth. "I know them all, dear. Mum said them where I could hear. Usually talking about Nexus!" Bright nods to Raullaur, her expression sympathetic. "Well, this is a fine start, especially given what you told me you were here to do. Incidentally, have you met Ignis before? You and he certainly have some martial skill in common."
Rishi	The door dings as a familiar woman in a leather cloak enters, looking around a moment before sashaying over to your table. "Hello all of you! It is nice to be seeing you once more! How is the food here being?"
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk laughs into her glass a bit "Oh Bright, we are always being watched by someone for something. It is the nature of the game." She points to several people in the cafe "They are all wordering what you are doing at a table with these two fine men. They probably think that one of them is your lover." She gestures to a man tucked into a corner "He's more interesting to me as he is taking everyone measure to decide if he should risk picking anyone's pockets." &r&r Silk nods to Ignis in understanding. "I had a major falling out with my family when it happened for me." She drops her voice below the sound of the room. "My family tried to kill me. Something something, not in blooded house."
Ignis	"We have met yes. A couple of times. Our last conversation was enlightening." Ignis answers Bright as he grins and tips his head to Raullaur, "And Amethyst stalemated you?" He gives a whistle and then shrugs, while dropping forward to let his chair mWre solidl rest on the ground. His booted feet hit the floor with a solid thump, "That's rather impressive. She continues to amaze me. Twice now did we do a free for all with her present and twice was Amethyst the last one standing after demonstrating her skill against me. That's rather impressive. I would say not to feel bad about her stalemating you but that's all rather unique isn't it? Not at all what one would expect but she's rather powerful." Rishi gets his attention as well though the lack of familiarity with her results in only a polite nod and a study of her visually.
Raullaur	Raullaur nods, "If I had kept my grip on my weapon, I bet I could have taken her...but from my beginnings, I have endured, if that makes sense?" THe lionman gives a nod and a bit of a grin to Ignis. Then Bright gets a nod as well. "We have met a bit, had a couple of conversations. No real spars, though." And when Rishi comes in, she gets a courteous nod and a smile. "Good evening, it is good to see you again," he offers to her. "THe sauces smell wonderful, but we haven't had anything come out yet. And I was hoping to talk with you later, Rishi, if that's possible?"
Bright Journey	Bright follows Silk's finger as she points here and there, nodding in understanding. "I saw the ones looking at me, of course." She grins and pours herself another goblet of wine. "It's hard -not- to, after all. In many ways, I rather like the attention." She chuckles. "I wasn't sure what was the deal with the man in the corner was, though. I knew something was off because he was carefully -not- looking at me. But you know a lot more about what he was doing." She shrugs. "I can't be good at everything, I suppose." She grins and takes another sip of wine. As Rishi walks in, Bright gives her a smile and waves her on over, not that Rishi wasn't coming over already anyway. "Ah! Do join us, my dear. It's nice to have an occasion that involves more wine and fewer Malfean portals. Though I expect our upcoming trip will be a bit more eventful!"
Rishi	Rishi is a southerner with ochre skin, a long waterfall of dark silken hair, a rather gleeful smile, and a leather cloak that hides her quite generous curves. Her voice is quite musical and sounds rather like warm honey, through her rather thick southern accent. "It is sounding like I should be trying to be fighting Ammy sometime, just to be judging my own skills." She smiles at the Lionman. "Of course! We can be going off together after we are being finished eating." She looks around, tilting her head. "I wonder if they are having anything from my homeland?"
Ignis	"Hmm.." Ignis gets a good look at Rishi, as, no doubt, do many others. He then nods his head to himself, appearing thoughtful before folding his arms and looking back to Bright, Raul and Silk, "The company you keep continues to amaze me. But, if you don't mind my asking, did I overhear you all mentioning some sort of trip of your own?" Ignis offers a lopsided smirk now, "If I were to guess, I think whatever you're planning is probably of more interest and color then my own boring plans involving a trip back to a city I'd rather have little to do with. Where are you all heading?"
Amethyst	Speak of the devil-dragon, and she shall appear. She finds herself wearing her usual garb and a grin of confidence. The young dragon is definitely conducting herself with more poise than she used to, the lessons with Black Pearl must be helping her. And her long and sensitive ears might just catch some of what Rishi's saying. Of course she could probably recognize her accent anywhere. And so she wonders over to the group, and announces her presence with a giggle. "I'm always up for a good spar." She grins at Ignis and Raullaur, nods towards Bright and Silk, and clings to and leans on Rishi. "So many of my friends in one place. How you all doing?"
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk nods to the new comers "I'm glad to see that everyone is here. I think." She smiles at Amethyst "Perhaps someday you can introduce me to your Pearl properly. I have heard a great many interesting things about her." Silk pours a second glass of wine for herself and sips it thoughtfully.
Bright Journey	"Oh! I didn't realize you were Southern!" Bright smiles wider and gestures towards an empty seat for Rishi, though there's only a couple left. "I swear, I had no idea. Actually, I'm very glad indeed you are. We need a judge, someone who knows what Southern food is supposed to taste like." She smirks. "And someone who knows what in Creation "saag paneer" is. Flametongue, I'm guessing?" She shrugs helplessly as Amethyst walks in. t "Aha! And here is the woman of the hour. I won't deny it's been a bit since I sparred with any of you either, but perhaps sometime soon. And as for where we're going..." Bright grins, raises her wine goblet towards Amethyst, and says, "It's her trip. She should explain. Suffice to say we'd have set out already, but the preparations are important. I would not do to head there unprepared, I'm sure we all can agree."
Rishi	"I am always doing the better to be seeing you Ammy!" She raises an eyebrow and her grin gets mischevous. "Is that meaning you are up to be wrestling with me?" Rishi nods thoughtfully. "Pearly is seeming to be most lonesome. I have been stopping by when I can be sparing the time to be seeing her. I am sure she would like to be meeting you, Silk. Though you should not be taking her things, I am thinking." Rishi takes the menu and looks it over, cocking her head to one side as she does, causing her hair to sway and shimmer. "....I am thinking that the one who was writing this menu is knowing the Firetongue as well as I am knowing the Riverspeak. That said, I am being from the Dreaming Sea, so maybe they are doing the speaking differently in the Chiaroscuro?" She shakes her head. "But yes, this journey is needing to be most well prepared."
Raullaur	"I don't know, but it's supposed to be Chiarascuro, so...perhaps?" Raullaur answers Rishi with a bit of a shrug. And then, catching a fragment of conversation, nods to Silk. "Who is this Pearl? Someone I should know?" He drinks a bit more wine from the shallow bowl, and listens more.
Amethyst	Amethyst takes a look at the menu herself, "Grilled um, I don't actually know what that is but I assume it's an animal of some variety?" She squints at the menu. "Sorry Bright, I'm afraid my flametongue is not as good as I'd like it, not compared to the other languages I speak. And I've never lived in the south, but I was born on the coast of the dreaming sea myself." She looks up at Rishi, "It's funny how that works isn't it? That we're both from the southeast." "And my trip? Oh, we're just going to a place underneath the dreaming sea. Nothing special, just visiting some family." One of her ears flicks as she mentions 'family', subtly hinting towards what sort of family she's referring to. "I wanna talk to my mother and learn if I really am a twin, or if my brother came before me. Also to hear why she's taken my father's name." "My oathsister is definitely a character." Amethyst says, "She's a Dynast of House Cynis and is coaching me on the ways of social elegance, things I didn't learn when I young. My father mostly taught me how to master weapons and fighting, not how to master manners. And uh, my mother has a lot of fae-blood herself." She shrugs. "And for some reason or another she's friendly towards those the realm would normally condemn." Being taught from a young age how to fight might help explain why little Ammie is so dang good at it.
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk looks over at Rishi "I don't know what you are talking about. I heard that Pearl is an information broker. I love information. I wouldn't steal it from her. Maybe I can make a business arrangement with her though." Silk looks at the menu again "Why are there five red beans next to this dish?"
Ignis	"-Underneath- the Dreaming Sea? Oh..that's certainly more special then a long boring trip to Nexus. I want to trade with someone.." laughs Ignis as he slowly stands. "But I doubt any of you will want to so for now...I must bid you all farewell. I do want to take you up on the offer for a rematch though, Amethyst." he smiles to her and then nods to Raullaur, "And to truly cross blades with good Raullaur. Otherwise..I bid you all enjoy your luncheon."
Rishi	Rishi leans forward towards the Lionman. "If you wished to discuss the Workings of Sorcery, Ammy is being a Sorcerer as well. Her insights could be most valuable."
Raullaur	Raullaur nods and looks between the two of them. "This is true. I felt the brunt of her sorcery in our spar," he says. "As for workings...do you really want to discuss such things out in the open? In public?"
Amethyst	"We may go back to my shop if you wish." Amethyst says, "I have ample place to discuss workings away from prying eyes. But I would be happy to assist and lend my own expertise." The dragon looks about, and then turns back to the pair.
Rishi	Rishi orders a plate of something that sounds a little familiar to go. Once delivered she stands and makes ready to leave. Once back at Ammy's shop, Rishi stretches back into her prefered form and starts idly munching. "So, Raullaur, what were you wishing to be discussing?"
Raullaur	After the walk to the mmms and thinks, "Well...for now, I want to be able to breathe underwater, so that I can be on this trip under the sea. FOr later..." His eeys unfocus a bit, "It is what we talked about before, becoming more leonine, stronger. You mentioned a working to try to help find if there is one of the Moon's who is supposed to be with me. And then....what we tried before that one night...but all of those can wait until after the trip under the sea."
Amethyst	"If you're alright with gills, then Rishi can do this using her weird lunar magic." Amethyst grins at Rishi and shifts into her own more comfortable form, looking very much like a fish person, complete with her irradescent scales and gills and fins, "The same way she reshaped me to look like this." Amethyst looks at Raullaur carefully, and then looks towards Rishi, ears middled out. It's clear she's curious of what exactly the two of them did but doesn't wanna pry.
Rishi	Rishi nods, considering. "Ah, well, if you are just wishing to be breathing under the water, I can be giving you this power quite simply through the gifts of my blessing. Are you wishing to be having them all of the time? Or are you just wanting them for this trip and then having me be removing them afterwards?" Rishi sniffs at Ammy, mock offended. "My blessing is not being weird. My magic is being most noble and helpful to all. As your form is showing!"
Raullaur	Raullaur nods, "I would want to have it for the trip, and then to remove afterwards, if you please," he says. "The other things would be more permanant." He looks over at Amethyst and smiles, letting tohse inhuman eyes trace over the forms of both ladies appreciatively.
Amethyst	Amethyst nods to Raullar. And she grins at Rishi, "/Everything/ lunars do is weird. Goodness your blessing requires that you shed blood and then they must drink it! I couldn't imagine shedding my own blood so needlessly!" Ears perked up, the ltitle blood sorceress is clearly messing with Rishi. "But I gotta know," She pauses, her face suddenly turning relatively serious, "Is what exactly you two are up to in my absence?" She looks between Raul and Rishi, gently crossing her arms and looking expectantly. It's hard to tell exactly how serious she's being right now or what /exactly/ she's implying.
Rishi	"Dearest Ammy, just because you are not wishing to be sharing my bed right now, does not mean that I am always being ...lonely. And what I am doing to be helping someone refine their form is being between them and me, unless they are wishing to be talking about it."
Raullaur	Raullaur twitches his ears and tail, and looks slightly abashed, but nods. "I have fought against you, but....I'd rather not speak of changing, if you don't mind." He smiles, though, and sits down on one of the benches, "What do I need to do to help with being able to breathe beneath the waves?"
Amethyst	Ammy hmphs at Rishi and nods slowly towards Raullaur. "Alright, I'll let you keep your changes to yourself. And I'll respect Rishi's holy duty in not disclosing them." She says. After a pause, Amethyst takes out her athame, the silver-iron blade that has probably shed more of her blood than any other, and despite that, it's still shiny and new. She offers it to Rishi, "You wanna use my blade for this?"
Rishi	Rishi nods formally at Amethyst, honored. "I would also be borrowing the cup. And your bathing pool, as we will need to be making sure this is working and teaching him to be breahing properly under the waves." Rishi stands there for a moment, eyes closed, the atheme held in one hand. With a sudden, sharp motion, she slices through one of her palms, dripping red liquid into the cup. She looks carefully at it, before holding it up to her mouth...which unhinges allowing a pair of long fangs to fold out which drip a clear liquid into the cup to mix with the blood. Placing the cup on the table, Rishi reaches into her satchel and pulls free three vials, dripping a few drops from each into the cup, which bubble and hiss. %r She turns to Raullaur and holds out the frothy cup, smiling. "Here, be drinking this." The concoction is ...unexpected. Smooth and sweet with only a faint tang of blood and salt. After drinking it, Rishi places her hands upon Raullaur's back, her fingers tracing out where the gill slits should go, skin opening up behind them.
Raullaur	Raullaur takes the cup and looks a bit askance at it, but then drinks it down as best he can, with only a little bit staining the fur of his muzzle. And then the skin parts, and he feels...strange, stranger than the last time his shape was changed even. He flexes his muscles, trying to make things feel right and scrunching his face up. "This is...rather weird," he says, "But...it is effective, I think."
Amethyst	Amethyst watches and waits and smiles as Rishi does her work. "I'll go prepare the water." She says, going off and grabbing a small handful of dragons-know-what to add to the water, leaving the two of them alone for the moment.