A cascade of hot water from a failing local diner sink hit Kagutsuchi's hands, the sound of countless dishes, along with the water was always a pleasant experience for the hard working young man. Drift diner was a place Kagu came to love over time, but of course such a friendly place filled with a plenty characters of all kinds could not fill the void in his heart; a smirk came to his face, he thought about how far he came, and how much more he had to go to survive in the rasping world. Despite how grim things were, he was not ready to throw in the towel. Besides a few articles he read in the past week, it was evident those that were eventually to rule Orario City, or have a life time of wealth were occupations specializing in dungeons, along with trading and selling of commodities. Kagu began to over-think his situation, the displeased look on his face was hard to miss; 'to even start a business, I'd have to run through a dungeon, and find some profitable loot, and kill monsters to earn gold pieces.' The thought of running a dungeon was a drag to him, and it would have been overly difficult in his head because he had no friends. Kagutsuchi tried to join a familia in the past, in fact he tried a few days ago, sadly he was declined due to his weak appearance, besides his lack of luck for the world of warriors, he saw himself as a flourishing business man. Figuring out the economics of the city wouldn't be difficult, everyone wanted to be adventurers, so any weapon was in demand, but magical weapons, and armors was were a man's means could thrive. 'Heh, why do I even think so far ahead? Running a business company would be almost impossible for me, I don't even have the confidence to ask anyone to join a dungeon with me anymore, I get laughed at to much, but I really wanna' make this work.' He thought to himself while cringing at the same time. Kagutsuchi finished washing the dishes, his shift ended as well, he snatched his green, hanging jacket from the clothing rack, and sped out the door to the harsh streets of the slums. The boy tread towards a nearby weapon shop, of course he did not want to enter, simply for the fact he didn't have the gold pieces on him, a loud sigh came from Kagu as he reviewed the descriptions of the swords sitting in the glass window for show. He pressed his face against the glass "Boy oh boy, what I wouldn't give to have money right now...and a girlfriend."
NOAH "Do... do you even know what one of Ferraro's weapons looks like?" Inside of some weapon shop somewhere in the depths of the Orario Slums there were two individuals standing across from one another over a shop counter already in some of sort of argument over a sword. The Dwarven shop-keep behind the counter had naught but a puzzled look on his face as he looked back and forth between the weapon laid on the counter before him and the man who seemed to be questioning his skills as a weapon merchant. "Eh Who do you take me for, some Prun just off the milk?! Who doesn't know Ferraro's style and this piece of trash isn't one of his!" At the sound of the Shop-Keeps ill informed ramblings the only thing that Noah could do to showcase his pure displeasure that the mans knowledge was through a combination of a deep heavy sigh and literally face palming. "Have you ever even bothered to look at his earlier work you know those things that novice or journeymen blacksmiths make before they have a name? Of course it is not going to look like his legendary pieces unless you mean to imply that he was a legend right out of the crib.... ugh... actually look at it this time and take and take note of these engravings right here." Despite his earlier protests the shop-keep was actually starting to gain some visible interest in the weapon now and began to take a closer inspection and as he did Noah's began to point towards a group of barley visible engraved lines near the hilt of the sword. At the sight of the lines and upon closer inspection the Dwarf began to stroke his beard and a slight smile appeared in the corner of Noah's mouth. "Hm.. Grrr ok I'll admit that the engraving looks familiar but that doesn't actually prove that its one of Ferraro's it doesn't even have his insignia!" "By itself? Of course not but if you take everything else into account between the age of the sword, material choice for the hilt, the blade design, though most of all... the metal itself. 200 years ago in the area where Ferraro lived it was customary to use bones in the forge and aside from unintentionally making the blade stronger it also added a distinct look and feel. Bone forging that you should know died out long ago everywhere else but Ferraro's village still used it during his time living there." As Noah spoke the Dwarf dared not to utter a word as his attention was now hinging on every word he spoke to him "... and thus one of Ferraro's earlier works before his craft became known, do you sign anything you made as a apprentice?" The Dwarf remained silent for a few good minutes as his eyes and fingers scanned over every groove and edge of the blade before him "If... if this is one of his early works... ... it may not be any use in a real fight but just by what the collectors would pay for this by itself." The Dwarf couldn't hold in his excitement anymore as he looked down at the genuine article below him with a unmistakable smile on his face that would remind everyone why people thought Dwarf's were greedy. After a minute or so the Dwarf became re-aware that Noah was even there and began to cough looking around to retain his composure "...how much?" At the sound of those words the static look on Noah's face changed to one of a mischievous smirk of one who had the hook and sinker. After nearly 10 minutes of back and forth Noah's figure exited the shop holding a coin purse and a sword in the other with a satisfied look on his face "I told him that idiot would by the knock off." mumbling under his breath. "Boy oh boy, what I wouldn't give to have money right now...and a girlfriend." It was only just now that he had taken notice of some strange guy with a face plastered onto the glass... probably drooling on it too for that matter who was seemingly fixated on the weapons inside. Considering how the guy looked he appeared more as a desperate bus boy than a adventurer "If you are going to rob the place you can go ahead, I'm done in there and won't stop you." 740 @Kagutsuchi Izanami
At the end of Kagutsuchi's sentence, an immediate response came from an unknown stranger. The azure headed boy quickly averted his attention in shock only to take site upon suspicious character; a rush of nervousness over-came Kagu, and his face became red. '...I hope this guy didn't hear me, hopefully he isn't as shady as he looks, don't wanna' judge a book by its cover.' Kagutsuchi rubbed the back of his head while a forcing smile which made him look weird "R-rob this place? I don't think I'd ever have it in me to do something like that, heh" he said, the young man's eyes traced towards the sword the man held, it was certainly magnetizing to look at. Working up a large amount of courage, Kagu aggressively inhaled the unpleasant smells of the Orario's slums, and decided to ask the stranger a question. "Um...might you be an adventurer? If you are, wh-what is it like in there? I work at a diner, and have only been able to listen to stories from adventurers without asking anything." Kagutsuchi mumbled, and stuttered as usual. No sign of charisma slept in the boy, and it was painfully evident right now. He even sweat asking the question due to being tense, and along with that he was already talking to much in terms of giving a clue where he worked. However, Kagutsuchi's eyes showed a deep interest in what man had to say, hopefully he was going to reply. @Noah Gensch
NOAH If Noah was quite honest the near immediate and obvious reaction of nervousness was pretty humerus he had almost quite forgotten that there were people like that living in Orario after all you really didn't see them much as they either died young in the dungeon or stayed away from most adventurers out of fear; which would this guy be. "Eh you should at least consider it, locks on this place are basic enough and everything is out in the open. Plus no one would really expect someone... well like you. You might just get away with it." There was a obvious sentiment of teasing under his voice. As he finished speaking he was about to head off but before he could take more than a few steps away from the weapon shop's door he heard the nervous voice of the boy behind him. "Um...might you be an adventurer?... ... without asking anything." Noah could only look at the kid for a moment as his eyes drifted towards the weapon's showcase behind the glass he was drooling over which all in all made it somewhat obvious that the kid at least thought that he wanted to be a Adventurer. "You probably heard enough stories to get the gist of how it plays out; you go in for the fame and gold... stay because your being eaten alive by some goblin." The sound of Noah's voice at the end of his sentence made it somewhat obvious that the idea was quite humerus though he already kinda figured that the kid wouldn't appreciate it as much. After all there was generally a reason why the majority of dungeon delvers tended to be a certain way, that being that all of the nice and kind ones tend to die off early. "If you want to dungeon dive just go for it... if you survive your first trip odds are actually pretty good that you will survive the next few at least." For many people their first dive into the dungeon was a trial by fire of sorts where if you live you probably have what it takes to keep doing it and if not well... you get the point. 366 @Kagutsuchi Izanami
Kagutsuchi closely listened to every word that was casually said by the stranger, some of it sounded terrifying, but a smile some how crept on the boy's face. "Just go for it..." he repeated while dropping his head, and looking at his right hand. The inexperienced boy made a fist, it wasn't some simple fist either, it was the beginning to a new journey in life where he could change himself, he looked at his hand for five seconds, and did not utter a word. The silence signified a pool of optimistic views towards conquering the dungeon. The wimp's seemed stronger for a second, because it carried a shred of presence to it. "Hmm, although I'm pretty scared, and have no clue what I'm about to face, I will try it. T-thank you for your words!" Kagutsuchi yelled from the top of his lungs. His voice was so loud it could be heard thirty buildings away, it was enough to startle the busy citizens walking the streets. He briskly turned around, and glided towards the dungeon, his ignorance was strong considering he was going the wrong way. A few feet away from the stranger, Kagutsuchi turned around and stated his name to the man he thought of as a benevolent person. "I-I am Kagutsuchi Izanami, I hope to see you again!" he shouted, hopefully Noah could at least point the kid in the right direction, and give him a few tips about the do's, and don'ts of running in a dungeon. @Noah Gensch
NOAH He would say that the kid's decision was somewhat unexpected but considering the general unfounded allure that being and adventurer had it really wasn't after all in this scenario you really do only have 2 options; do.. or don't with the savory lure masking the sharp hook beneath. He made the choice a long time ago himself but for it it was basically out of necessity to get away from... her... but it was a choice none the less. "Hmm, although I'm pretty scared, and have no clue what I'm about to face, I will try it. T-thank you for your words!" The level of the boy's voice was high and close enough that Noah instinctually began to rub the inside of his right ear with his finger and nothing but a blank face to go with it. Some people might of considered it somewhat admirable to rush past your fears and head into the unknown but in the face of the kid all he could think of was 'He going to die painfully... ugh... if he even gets there.'. Noah's blank stare could only continue to become more apparent as the boy walked literally in the complete opposite direction of his destination. "Oi!" His voice was raised one or two levels but still no where near the level of yelling as to get the boy's attention. "Unless you want to go the cemetery over there early... the dungeon is that way... ..." Pointing the direction with his thumb down the other direction of the street they were in. Whether it was curiosity or concern... actually it was just curiosity, Noah began took a closer look at the boy focusing on his appraisal skill to get a gist of the boys actual abilities if he had any. 'No magic... probably not any skills either... hmm... strength focused?... his base feels like its at least higher than average... might have a chance to make a name if he wasn't a mental wreck.' he figured out a few more small and mostly uninteresting details in the next few moments and the more the thought on it he figured that the kid would just be fodder for the first goblin he came across after all he didn't even have a weapon. 'Ugh... fine "Come on before I change my mind. I was going to head down there myself today anyways... though if you do just take note that I'm keeping anything that drops. Think of it like observation training and probably fleeing training if you make it to that point." As he finished speaking Noah began to walk in the direction of the tower hopping that he wasn't going to regret this and he figured that in the worst case scenario everyone could use some live bait. 460 @Kagutsuchi Izanami
Kagutsuchi couldn't believe what he heard, this stranger was willing to show him the ropes of the dungeon, such words were delight to his ears. "R-really, say no more...uh" Kagu hadn't asked the stranger for his name yet, and since they were going to do a dungeon run together it would be beneficial to know now. In either case the boy had a smug look on his face, he finally had a friend, even if the man didn't announce it. Kagutsuchi began walking in the direction where the stranger pointed, the aspiring adventuring boy turned his head to the right and asked his new comrade something personal. "Since we're doing this together, and I told you my name, could you please tell me yours?" he asked politely, a small fire of confidence enveloped the boy's heart because he was a bit more comfortable. A few things began to swim around the boy's mind, of course there were going to be extralayers to the man beside him, but just what kind of person was he? Kagutsuchi was to green of a person to take notice to a few details about the man's character. One of these sore details was when he encouraged him to try and steal from the store, it could only register a few things about his personality, he was cunning, and perhaps a tactical man when need be. Noah was indeed an interesting person you didn't come by often, but also a dangerous one for the inexperienced. Kagutsuchi lifted his head to look at the man, and waited to hear his name before meeting their destination. @Noah Gensch
NOAH Despite what the kid probably thought he wasn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart after all he was never once called a bastion of joy, happiness, and rainbow covered flowers it was rather more along the lines of curiosity to see if this wanna-be actually had anything to back up his aspirations. That and even if he proved himself unable to fight it was usually worth it to have a extra body in a dungeon to stave off those who prey solo delvers though on the other hand those types may just focus on them more after seeing Kagu. If anything it might just be entertaining to watch him run around from goblins, and if he survived that at least he would get a agility boost from it; small victories. "Since we're doing this together, and I told you my name, could you please tell me yours?" As Kagu spoke Noah continued to walk forward and did not even give a indication that he heard the boy speak for more than a few good moments before he let out a soft sigh "It's Noah... come on before the sun bakes your head." It would be more than a little while for them to reach the base of the tower and until then he would hope that Kagu would use that time to muster up any sort of confidence he had stored away deep down or at least make it look like he has on the outside for appearances sake. 252 @Kagutsuchi Izanami
