By a miracle of unspoken communication (or just random chance), Mave was dressed in the Chronotopian outfit that Tulani picked out to match both the Sphynx and Nicora, who had decided to wear their versions of the outfit - despite Mave having arrived on a completely different airship. The outfits were well-off-looking enough to get them prompt service on the docks as well, as several Kavi popped up offering guide, porter and carriage (well, cart) services. And there was one, Nicora was certain, who muttered about living in Tulani's corset and paying rent.
Nicora feels a bit odd being back as, well, Nicora. Things are ... less hormonal for a change, and probably due to the altitude diluting her little 'gifts'. Still, to be safe she made sure her jewelry was in place and properly set up before getting dressed. She even had Tulani help her cinch her corset snug, making the Eeee look a bit more busty than she is in reality. It makes breathing a little more difficult as a result, though. Still, she can walk without difficulty and that's good enough. Flying around a city is problematic at best. "Keep an eye on the Kavi, they're talking about you," she remarks quietly to Tulani. "Do we need an escort here? It should be simple enough to find lodgings on our own," she asks the others in a louder voice.
"We will carry our own luggage, thank you," Mave tells the assembled weaseloids. "We already know where we are going." With a bit more encouragement, the mob scatters to find better pickings.
"Where are we going?" Tulani asks.
Mave shrugs. "We'll know when we get to Little Babel," she claims.
"We could stay anywhere. Little Babel is not a requirement, other than there are a lot of Eeee there," Nicora notes and shrugs a bit. She collects her bag, when contains her clothing plus the carefully wrapped up book from the Lord. "And do we know how long we will be here before departing again? This city makes me itch."
"I need to get some information on what entry routes are available first," Mave notes. "Then we can plan our departure." Shouldering her own duffel (they seem to have all gotten heavier since the beginning of the journey) the white Eeee heads off towards the Bazaar.
"We could always jump off the side of the island and fly in ourselves," Nicora jokes as she follows after Mave. "Also, how long did it take for you to seduce the captain of your ship?"
"It was only an overnight flight, Nicora," Mave notes. "He was on duty the whole time.."
"So you did not try?" Nicora asks.
Tulani snickers, and whispers to Nicora, "I know some decent bars where we won't stand out too badly, if you're interested."
Nicora's ears perk. "I would be very interested," she says to Tulani. "It'll help me not think about where we are going..."
"I took the opportunity to catch up on my rest," Mave says defensively. "After all, it is rare that I get a cabin all to myself."
"She struck out," Nicora adds in whisper to Tulani.
"Maybe the captain was a woman," Tulani suggests quietly. "They don't always fall for Mave."
Nicora snickers at that.
The high-pitched calls of the hawkers is like a constant buzz. "Beetle cakes! Get them while they're hot!" "Live greenbellies, still squirming!" "Brothel guide! You can trust our reviews!"
Nicora snickers again at the last one. "A brothel guide? Seriously?" she asks Tulani. "Now I've traveled a fair amount and never heard of that. Have you?" Still, as much as she dislikes Rephidim, she seems to perk up being in Little Babel and around more of her kind.
"Well, see.. 'all roads lead to Rephidim' also means it's a swamp of diseased genitals," Tulani whispers. "Of course, there aren't any bugs that I know of that jump species."
"I wasn't asking to go to one," Nicora says and holds up her hands, "Just that I never heard of a guide!"
Up ahead, Mave pauses, then turns and looks at hanging sign with the image of a bell carved into it. "This looks acceptable and cheep," the Yodhinala declares.
"Well, that's why they have guides!" Tulani notes. "I usually get the one for the cleanest toilets.. oh, Mave has found something."
"Let me guess, the Belfry," Nicora asks as she and Tulani catch up to Mave. "And cheap is good, it means we can spend more in the city." She even grins a bit at that before giving the chosen establishment a look-over.
It is an inn, but unlike most it has no tavern area - of course, it's right in the middle of the bug-onna-stick district anyway. As all three enter the lobby, the clerk looks up and smiles. She is probably the first and only cross-eyed Eeee that Nicora has ever seen. Plus the eye colors don't match; one is brown, the other is yellow. "Welcome to Bette Belfry's Inn!" she says chirpily. "I am Bette Belfry Jr. How can I help you?"
"Do you have any rooms?" Mave asks, nonplussed.
"We need lodging for three people for at least a night, perhaps longer while we arrange the next leg of our journey. What are your room rates?" Nicora asks as she looks about, then briefly boggles at the cross-eyed Eeee.
"For three?" Bette asks, then covers her yellow eye and recounts. "Ah yes, three! Well, the Deluxe Executive Perch Paradise rooms are one shekel per night, but if you want the Ultra Deluxe Executive Palatial Suite - which comes with a bed - it'll be two shekels. Payable in advance."
"We'll need the bed for Tulani," Nicora points out to Mave. "Either that or we sell her in the Bazaar. She's rather bizarre, right?"
"I can sleep standing up too," Tulani says, looking at Nicora with crossed eyes now.
"Yes, but if you do that I'll have the urge to tip you over when you're sleeping," Nicora counters, then sticks out her tongue.
"Don't worry, the Deluxe Executive Perch Paradise rooms have anti-tipping-over features!" Bette claims. "So... that's one Palatial Suite then?" she prompts.
Nicora looks to Mave and arches her brow questioningly. "Affordable enough?" she asks.
"Extremely," Mave replies. "I wonder how she turns a profit?"
"We'll take it, thank you Miss Belfry," Nicora tells the cross-eyed hostess.
"Volume!" Bette declares, and takes a key from the rack behind the desk. "Follow me! Mind your head, and your knees! We back up on a livery stable too, so if you hear scary noises or the walls are shaking that's just Randy the Dromodon mounting someone or something. Once he's hit his head often enough he slows down..."
"Why not get him snipped? It calms males down," Nicora asks without missing a beat and follows after Bette. She's stayed in worse, including a snow bank ... so this can't be that bad.
"He bit the hand off the last guy to try that," Bette notes, leading them down a narrow hall with far too many doors than should be possible. Before they get to the ladder at the end that goes to the next floor, she turns, tries to stick the key in a knothole next to the door lock, then gets it in on her second try. CLICK! The door swings open on.. a long, narrow closet. But it has a cot along one side, and several sturdy perches (with some handholds on the walls to help get into position). "Here we go! One Ultra Deluxe Executive Palatial Suite! Chamberpot and linens are extra, and we have a strict no-smoking policy because the vermites grew to like the smell."
"Reminds me of the room I shared with the other scouts on my first airship job," Tulani notes with a nostalgic purr.
"I'll do it for free board," Nicora offers and grins a bit wickedly. She then eyes the rather cheap quarters and remarks to Mave, "And now you know why it is so cheap. I've stayed in rougher surroundings, it will do. It is also motivation to be out in the city."
Mave nods, and hands over two shekels, which Bette promptly chews on to check for authenticity. "We've got glow jars at the front desk if you need any extra light. And there's a bathhouse.. uh.. somewhere.. in the area."
"Thank you, Miss Belfry," Nicora says and holds out her hand for the key.
Nicora then pauses and asks, "And oh, if you hear of any interesting news from Babel, we would be grateful if you told us. It is on our travel route."
Handing over the key, Bette says, "Oh, there's all sorts of interesting news! Why, I heard that a five-headed Naga was born in a ruined temple, and then went out and ate the six-headed one that was terrorizing a midden heap. And that all of the nobles had their heads cut off, then sewn back on but not to the right bodies, because the Grand Vizier was trying to teach them about.. uh.. economics!"
"Yes, ah, well, thank you for that news. I'm sure it will prove ... useful," Nicora says and smiles to the obviously crazy-Eeee. She goes into their closet-room to store her bag so that she can walk about without the weight.
Once things are locked up, and they're back out in less claustrophobic (but only marginally better lit) street, Tulani lets out a breath she seems to been holding for some time. "I wonder what Bette Belfry Senior is like?" she asks.
"Batty," Nicora quips. "Now, are you going to check on travel, Mave? Or should we stick together?"
"If you two want to go play, that's fine," Mave says. "Just remember not to do any magic or miracles, especially using the Light or the Shadow."
"I'm completely open, I have no plans," Nicora says as she rolls her wings in a shrug. "So ... up to Tulani. We can go with you or explore."
"Explore!" Tulani declares. "We can get lost in the Bazaar for days if necessary!"
"Try to be back by morning at least," Mave notes.
"Hm, I could buy souvenirs for people back in Draco, too. So ... off to the Bazaar! The only place where we are less bizarre than the surroundings," Nicora agrees and loops her arm around Tulani's.
After leaving Little Babel, Tulani guides Nicora away from the central chaos to where things are a bit more permanent. "What sort of stuff do you want to look for?" the Sphynx asks, gazing into windows.
"Good question. Maybe a new idol of Gorphat for Phlagaea, a book of 'stories' about Draco County to amuse Rosalind, and hmm, Melusine is hard. Something odd-looking, like art glass," Nicora suggests as she peers about, watching the people more than the stores, since these environments are rife with pickpockets.
"Let's check the artisan area then," Tulani suggests. "But anything fragile you might want to just look for, but wait to get on the way back from Babel, or else have shipped."
"Mmm, good idea," Nicora agrees, even though she expects to die in Babel anyway. "Also, I'm sure you know this, but keep a hand on your coin pouch. Pickpockets and all that."
"Phhh," Tulani hisses. "I don't keep money in my coin pouch," she claims, and heads to one of the knick-knack stores. It's obviously got touristy stuff, since there are pinwheels and flags on display.
"Oooo, knick-knacks," Nicora quips as they approach the oddly decorated store. Still, she does look around a bit. Tourists talk too, and there might be useful information.
The shop has a few browsers in it; a pair of young humans and a Kahtta and Lapi. Everything is shiny and meticulously polished (and no surprise, the shopkeeper appears to be a Vartan). There are snow-globes with miniature carved and painted landmarks, fancy-looking and exaggerated maps of the city, books on urban legends, and plenty of moderately-well-done paintings and cards.
Tulani ooos over a Zelak marionette, complete with Temple Guard markings. "Imagine waking up to have this dangling over your chest!" she tells Nicora.
"Morning," Nicora says by way of greeting to the Vartan. The marionette causes Nicora to blink and her head tilts this way and that. "Never had the urge to bed one of those, but glad to know you have odd dreams, Tul," she quips and flashes a playful grin. "It's creepy and reminds me of the bug monsters of Babel, sort of. The ones grown for weapons."
"Ewww," Tulani says, putting the puppet back on its hanger. "I doubt we'll find plush Plaguebringers here. Maybe you could find a green plush Fnerf doll for Phlagaea?"
"Huh, that's not a bad idea," Nicora agrees. "And I saw some of the bug machines while in Babel, spooky stuff." She wanders about for a bit, taking time to eye the globes to look for landmarks she knows and to look for the plush section.
The globes have the Temple, Government Circle, the Clock Tower and the campuses of the Collegia Esoterica and Collegia Naturalis - although if not for the labels one wouldn't know from looking. The plush section is full of small bean-bag style critters, including - of all things - Knight Templars. They all look overly cute and childlike, due to the restrictions of size and material, but there are certainly a lot of colors.
So, Nicora looks for a plush green Fnerf ... or even a plush green Eeee! She's certain Phlagaea would want a stuffie for her child to hug, after all. Her ears flick back, trying to listen to the other shoppers while she looks.
"The parade wasn't the same with out the kicksy-winsy machine," the young Khatta complains to his rabbit companion. "The arcade has the best machines anyway; who cares about one on wheels that makes lots of noise?" the Lapi counters.
Sure enough, there is a green Eeee - in bandages! It's a miniature, smiling Gorphat doll. The other Sisters might be in there somewhere as well, as the bin is pretty deep.
"Victory!" Nicora declares and even holds out the green doll for Tulani to see. She looks for Inala and Sunala ones too while she's at it.
"We should try to get into the Flying-whatever.. that tower-top restaurant. I hear it has great views," the human girl says to her partner, who shakes his head. "You need reservations in advance. And they mostly serve Eeee food."
Nicora pauses, one arm still stuck in the bin. "Which restaurant is this?" she calls over to the other shoppers.
"The Flying Tower," the man replies. "In the Merchant's Quarter, can't miss it.. it's at least seven stories tall with landing balconies."
"Thanks!" Nicora tells the man and makes a mental note to check the place out later.
Tulani figures out what Nicora is after, and digs through the pile of stuffed dolls to try and complete the set. "Oh.. I think this is a Zakaro one," she notes, holding up a little purple one covered in funny symbols and sticking her tongue out.
"Yes, that's Zakaro," Nicora agrees, "Reminds me of Hekat. Now, lets see if we can find the whole set..." Back to digging she goes, feeling a bit silly buying stuffed toys but...
There's just one Inala left, apparently, identified by blue glass-bead eyes and extra padding in the chest to make it unquestionably female. A white-haired black Eeee could be Sunala, and a brown with black haired one would do for Barada. None of them have the symbols of the Sisters on them, so it's hard to tell at times - and aside from Inala, there's no sign of gender. "I bet Roogi would snatch this as soon as she saw it," Tulani reports, pulling up a red-haired, googly-eyed bat - also with it's tongue sticking out.
"I intend to give it to her," Nicora claims, grinning like a child herself. "Well, let her take it, that is. This is silly, but ... eh, why not, right?" She takes her haul up to the Vartan so she can buy the collection.
Rephath is represented by a white doll with grey hair. Only Zakaro and Gorphat get the special extra costume parts. "That all?" the Vartan asks, looking Nicora up and down. "Twenty shekels."
"I think so," Nicora agrees as she looks for her money to cover the costs of the odd dolls. "Have you heard anything of Babel lately?" she asks as small-talk, "We'll be passing through there on a trip and any news of its current state would be useful."
The Vartan squawks in laughter, saying, "Nobody pass through Babel. You gots family there?" The bird also separates the dolls - Zakaro and Gorphat are paired, and Inala and Sunala, while Barada, Rephath and Blakat get their own pile.
Nicora shrugs a little. "Family I haven't seen in a long time. I don't intend to stay long, so yes, it is passing through," she claims.
"I hears still lots of smuggling, military trying to break away from whatevers type of government they trying out this month," the shopkeeper says as she bags the dolls and writes out a receipt for each one. "Nobles worried, think they lose all their power maybe."
"The government there still hasn't stabilized? So much for the constitution creating new government," Nicora grumbles as she counts out twenty shekels. "And I guess the great leader, Thath, still really controls everything?"
"He immortal, like old Sabaoth," the Vartan whispers. "Surrounded by Poison Women, knows all the secrets - always some noble house gettin' broken up for trying to kill him. Maybe things calm down once the surviving houses give up, eh?"
"He's not immortal, just clever," Nicora remarks dryly. "Met him once, long time ago, at a party. He speaks well, but if you can believe what he says ..." She shrugs. "Good thing he doesn't have family of the houses would go after them as easy targets."
"Nobles," the bird sniffs. "They no gives up power easy. Me, I got no love for grounder nobles. At least ours fight for Rephidim."
Nicora hands over the twenty shekels and collects her receipts and packages. "Nobles never do. There are some worth their position, others not. It's a rough position to hold in the best of times," she remarks. "Thank you for these and the information. Useful. I know to stay there even less time than originally planned."
"Good luck, watch out for crazy priestesses," the shopkeep says.
"Yeah, who knows what would happen if you associated with the Yodh," Tulani teases.
"Oh, I know to avoid them. They're nothing but trouble. Perverts and evil, the lot of them," Nicora agrees. "Lets go, Tulani, off for more fun!"
Outside, the Sphynx lets out a giggle. "Those dolls should survive.. they need to be tough enough for children," she notes, "And you paid way too much! You're supposed to haggle in the Bazaar you know. That's most of the fun of shopping here."
"That's why I have you, to handle the haggling," Nicora claims. "And as I've never bought here, how am I to know, eh?"
"Well, you should have asked me to deal with the shopkeeper then," Tulani notes. "You could have gotten those for maybe ten or less.. well.. maybe not, since he wrote separate receipts. Some of those must be more collectible than others."
"They seem rare-ish, given the state of things," Nicora remarks as she peers about. "So, you know this place better than me, where do you suggest we go next? And oh, I need to have my hair re-bleached and styled while I'm here..."
"Well, to the salon then!" Tulani declares, finger raised to the sky! "I don't know of any, but I have an idea of where to look. How much do you want to spend?"
"We probably need to keep it affordable," Nicora claims, "I spent quite a bit on jewelry." That last bit comes with a sheepish grin.
"Hmmm, I can figure this out," Tulani claims, looking lost in thought while her tail lashes about dangerously. "Cheap but effective.. cheap but.. oh, of COURSE!" she says, smacking fist into palm. "It's so obvious!"
"It isn't to me," Nicora claims, "So if this goes badly ... remember that I know where you're sleeping!"
"Where I'm sleeping tonight depends on how well things go at the bar later," Tulani claims, with feline confidence. "For now though, follow me!" She then marches off purposefully into the Bazaar.
"Pfft, and you claim I'm bad," Nicora teases and even swats Tulani's arm lightly. "Onward, indeed!"
The path weaves about, until it appears that Tulani is heading straight for an ominous looking tent with a sign that reads, "Ned an Bart, profeshnl plummers" hanging over the flap. She stops in front, licks a finger and holds it up to check the wind.. and then turns right and points at the giant opera house in the distance. "There it is! I knew I could find it."
"Oh thank the Gods, I thought you were going to some plumbers," Nicora admits, sounding relieved. "But you want us to go to a music house? They do hair there? Effectively and cheaply?"
"They've got actors," Tulani points out. "Actors are always poor. So they know how to do their own hair and makeup," she reasons.
"Oh, hm. Well, that might work. Lets give it a shot. We can use the bar to test the results," Nicora suggests.
After an hour of trying to sneak in, watching a rehearsal with various strangers off the street while the director yells a lot, and narrowly escaping an audition call, the duo manage to find the dressing rooms. There are several actors and actresses (and a few possible circus performers) lounging about and smoking, some still in costume. "If he yells at me again about bending my knees I'm going straight to Mr. Kromo and complaining," a poodle (well, or a Gallah made up to look like one) says. "It's not my fault the trousers bunch up at the knees!"
Nicora tries not to laugh. "Wow, they sound like the dancers from my old tribe. Complaining a lot," she whispers to Tulani. She decides to be a bit brave and step forward, then wave. "Ah, hello?" she says politely, "I hope we are not intruding?"
The performers turn and take in the attire of the two women, then one - a blond-haired, very buff Jupani - stands and says, "I zee, the company needs the funding and I, the great Fa'bio, have been pressed into service once more.."
"Excuse me?" Nicora asks, looking confused. "Does he think we're prostitutes?" she asks Tulani in whisper.
"We need her dye-job touched up," Tulani says, pointing to Nicora. "No, he thinks he is, and we're paying for him," she whispers to Nicora.
"He doesn't do anything for me," Nicora admits back to Tulani. "And yes, I do. We're traveling and we don't know the town well, but a theater always has excellent artists..." she says louder.
"Come have a seat over here honey," a lanky tabby Khatta wearing a beret says, patting a stool next to a makeup table with a decent mirror. "Let's have a look at your roots."
Nicora, though not particularly interested in the Jupani, walks over to the stool with her hips rolling rather suggestively. The corset does help an Eeee in that department, at least, it makes her look like she has hips. She settles herself down on the stool and places her hands in her lap.
The Khatta begins rummaging through Nicora's hair. "Mmmm, you had a nice job done here, sister," he purrs. "Lots of subtle shading. Where'd you have it done?"
"An artist in Draco County, Pierre he was called," Nicora explains as she holds completely still for the khatta to check through her hair. "He came highly recommended and did a spectacular job. Plus the way he massaged my scalp was to die for."
"Well, I can't do that, but I can hide your roots for ten.. twenty if you don't want your scalp to itch all day afterwards," the feline offers.
Nicora glances to Tulani to see if she feels the amount is reasonable.
"It's your scalp," Tulani notes, with a grin and a shrug. "They're actors.. if they could haggle, they'd make real money," she notes in Sylvanian.
"Fifteen if you can be sure my scalp doesn't itch," Nicora offers politely and remains smiling.
"For fifteen I can make sure it doesn't itch until after you've left," the man counter-offers.
"Seventeen, or I will make out with your Jupani friend," Nicora counter-offers.
"Darling, I see that in rehearsal every day," Mr. Beret claims, as he starts mixing up bleaching paste in a bowl. "But fiiine.. seventeen. But there's a three-shekel charge for bleach."
Nicora laughs. "That comment alone is worth the three shekels. Twenty total it is," she agrees, very much amused.
It only takes about ten minutes, and Nicora barely feels a thing besides the man's purring. The other actors have left to do the next scene, and the ones that were up previously come in. "I swear," a Kujaku complains, "if he yells at me about my knees one more time..."
Nicora has to struggle not to laugh. "The director has a certain theme to his style, it seems," she thinks. To distract herself now that the work is done, she counts out the twenty shekels and offers it to the khatta. "May I see a mirror?" she requests.
"Of course," the man says, and spins the stool around to face the makeup mirror. Nicora sees.. well, herself. Her black roots are gone, replaced by white.
Nicora tilts her head this way and that. She nods once, pleased with the results. "Thank you," she tells him as slides herself off the stool. She even leans in and quickly kisses his cheek. "I'll recommend you to my friends. Should they travel through, you may get more work."
"Sure thing sweets," the Khatta coos. "Now, I could fix your friend's face for about five shekels, since black is easy.."
"There's nothing wrong with my face, you mog!" Tulani complains. "My white mark is like a lightning bold splitting the night! It's distinctive!"
"I like the way her face looks; she's beautiful," Nicora asserts, "Nothing on her needs fixing."
"Well, with that bustier.. maybe nobody will notice the mark," the hairdresser notes, blowing a kiss.
"I'll mark you.." Tulani grumbles and turns with a flounce. "Come along Nikky."
Nicora rolls her eyes slightly. "We need to find a place where people will appreciate you more," Nicora claims and takes Tulani's arm in hers.
"I'm hungry," Tulani says once they find their way out of the maze of the Opera House. "Let's head to the Scholar's Quarter."
"Good place to eat there?" Nicora asks and releases Tulani's arm once they are outside. "With you around, I always have a good place to eat.."
"You'll like it, it's.. different!" Tulani claims, and refuses to say anything more about the place until they get there. And 'there' seems to be a single street of shops next to the Collegia Naturalis, where students go for off-campus (and thus marginally more edible) food. The restaurant the Sphynx leads Nicora too is called 'Off the Wall' and is decorated with.. junk stuck to the walls, and hanging from the ceilings. Airship parts, a canoe, some sort of stuffed reptile and other bits of urban flotsam. It's full of students, of course.
Nicora actually laughs and clasps her hands in front of her chest! "I love it!" she nearly squeals in delight, "It reminds me of my childhood. Lots of color and random." She's all fangs and smiles as she peers about in the restaurant!
There are three teenagers trying to set up instruments in a small corner stage - instruments which same wildly inappropriate to each other: a violin, a pair of bongos, and an accordion, played by a Jupani, Lapi and Khatta, all boys. In fact, there are very few women in the restaurant except for the servers. One of them comes and asks if they'd like booth or bar seats.
"Booth or bar?" Nicora asks Tulani. Then lower, adds, "There aren't that many women here. Is that ... normal?"
"Booth," the Sphynx requests. "Nobody will walk into our wings that way." As they're being led to their seats, she explains, "The Collegia Naturalis doesn't get many female students. It's a school for scientists and mathematicians and stuff. You know.. geeks."
"Oh dear. We may cause a stir then ... which may be your plan, evil sphynx," Nicora remarks, bemused, Once they're at the booth, Nicora slides herself into the bench and drapes her wings down a bit over her shoulders. "Thank you," she tells the server. "Can you bring us some beer while we consider what to order?"
While the Lapi server goes to get some beers, Tulani shares the menu with Nicora. A lot of the dishes have names that must be puns or Collegia-specific in-jokes, but 'Sylvanian Soup' is listed - blood and broth, cream optional, served in a stein with seasonings. A few of the clientele have noticed the boobs in their midst.
"Well, at least it has something I can eat. I can't risk the shadow here," Nicora admits quietly. While she continues to look over the menu, her eyes do flick to those that are apparently watching them. "I wonder if any will be brave enough to approach," she ponders.
The mostly male crowd is either focusing on getting their food crammed down as fast as possible or whispering to one another about the strange women. There are females out there, but they seem to pay more attention to the 'band' as it struggles for a moment, then finds an actual groove for the mismatched instruments.
"So, did you pick this place for the decor?" Nicora asks. "I approve, but I'm curious as to your reasons."
"It's cheap and has good portions," Tulani notes with a grin. "Students, like actors, are also poor."
"Just like us," Nicora quips, "And I know what I'm ordering. Not a lot of choice so it was easy."
"I'm getting a Flutter Nutter sandwich," Tulani declares, just before the bunny shows up with their beers. "Are you ready to order?" Another server goes by.. and Nicora notices they don't actually walk, but wear sandals with wheels on them.
"Yes, I think we are. I would like the Sylvanian soup, with cream," Nicora orders as she accepts her beer. She then rolls her hand to Tulani to indicate she should order for herself. "Odd shoes," she also thinks when she spots the wheels.
"Flutter Nutter; medium on the flutter, rare on the nutter. With pigtails," Tulani orders. "Oh, and a vanilla creamy, with extra foam!"
"Do you want fishticks with that?" the Lapi asks, to which the Sphynx nods with authority.
"I don't understand a word she said," Nicora realizes. She shrugs it off and takes a sip from her beer.
The beer is.. well, weak and a bit watery, but not too bitter. Probably fine for college students who don't trust water but don't want to get drunk early in the day. It's almost like a soft drink.
Nicora eyes the glass. "Weak," she remarks, but drinks more anyway.
"It's lunchtime, and this isn't a bar," Tulani notes. "We'll hit that later!" This is loud enough to cause a flurry of whispers to move through the booths.
Nicora's ears flick as she tries to pick up what the whispers are saying. "Did you ever have formal education?" she asks Tulani.
"My dad taught me to read and do numbers," Tulani notes, calming down a bit. "I know enough navigate at night and by the sun, with the right tools. I never went to a school where you had to dress up formal though."
"Neither did I," Nicora admits, "I was taught to read and do basic math, but everything else was through road trials. Be thankful you don't have to deal with nobles. Given my education, that is terrifying."
"Oh, I'm dealt with nobles plenty," Tulani notes. "As a sailor."
"I have to pretend to be at their level, that's different," Nicora notes and takes a drink from her mug.
"I hate to point this out, but you sort of are a noble now," Tulani says, taking a drink from her own mug.
"Due to relation, not through upbringing," Nicora points out. "I'm ill-prepared for it." She shrugs a bit and looks around the restaurant again.
Now that the talk of nobles has been broached, Nicora notices that nearly half the people here are poodles, including nearly all of the women. Not that they look very Gallisian in dress or style.
This makes Nicora's ears twitch. "Poodles," she mutters into her mug. It's far too weak to do much for her hatred of them, though.
"These kids never did anything to you, Nicora," Tulani points out. The waitress returns, with a big mug of 'soup' for Nicora and a plate of.. well, there's a sandwich with at least two kinds of meat, plus fried curly things and a glass of some sort of milk with fishsticks in it, topped with whipped cream.
"Only because they haven't gotten the chance yet," Nicora mutters. She picks up a spoon and stirs her soup. "Right now they're just staring at the monster," she adds quietly.
"Good grief," Tulani says, and bites into her sandwich. "You're the one seeing people as monsters, Nicora."
"Your kind hasn't been hunted," Nicora remarks dryly. She proceeds to eat her soup in silence.
"These people haven't hunted anyone," Tulani points out. "And you've met members of the Gallisian horde. It's just the few in charge - the rest don't want to have anything to do with it. They just want to be back home with their families."
"Tell that to Rosalind's husband, who they decapitated and paraded around," Nicora mutters, "And can we discuss something else, please."
"These are the people that protected her when the Marquis demanded her death, right here in Rephidim," Tulani points out. "I've been around. These poodles don't care one bit for Gallis or its policies."
Nicora doesn't reply to that. She just continues to eat her soup quietly and take an occasional drink from her mug.
The lunch crowd is big.. but brief. Studies and classes run on a schedule, and the students all file past the checkout in a mob, leaving the place all but deserted by the time Nicora and Tulani finish their meals.
"The food was good. simple, but decently made. I'll have to remember this place if we're to be stuck here for a few days," Nicora remarks as she finishes up her soup. Her mug is also mostly gone; bit given the relative weakness of the beer, she was in no hurry to drink it.
"There are some nice parks and stuff out here, and dressed like we are nobody is gonna stop us from looking around if we want," Tulani says, patting her belly. It's just a gesture of course, since the corset prevents her from making contact. And she's probably just realizing what a big meal she's eaten and how tight that thing is.
"Why would people stop us if we were dressed otherwise?" Nicora asks. The nice thing about a liquid diet is you never really feel 'stuffed' per se. Her biggest challenge with the corset is being able to breathe even remotely deeply.
"Oh, we're near the Noble's Quarter is all, but we look like well-to-do students, especially since we're dressed alike," Tulani claims. "Anyway, what do you feel like doing now?"
"We can take a walk in the parks, that's fine by me," Nicora says as she rises. "Are you buying lunch or am I?"
"My treat, since I dragged you all the way out here," Tulani says, grabbing the check. "I think there might be an arcade around here too."
"You sound like you're apologizing. You don't need to be. I'm the one who ruined lunch," Nicora notes. "And an arcade might be interesting too. I've never actually been to one, I've just heard of them. Plenty of time left in the day, so might as well wander and just do whatever strikes our fancy."
"Or find a nice sunny spot and take a nap," Tulani suggests, then dashes off to the cashier before Nicora can retort.
"Cats," Nicora mutters as she follows after the fleeing Sphynx. It's been a nice day, really. Sometimes she wishes she could see a poodle without getting angry about it. She isn't sure that will ever change, though. Too many bad memories associated with them. So, she shrugs. Sunlight will soon make her forget anyway.