So how did Akino find @Dempsey Fabijain? Did he catch her in the midst of battle one day, flying from opponent to opponent, enraptured with the fluidity of it all? Was there an instance where they found themselves happening upon one another? Was some spark of awe lit in Akino's eyes when he witnessed her move like a true warrior, carrying herself with the cool confidence of one who captured strength wherever they could find it? No. Akino had searched through character after character, dossier after dossier. These thousands of folks that populated the servers of the immense game, and endless number of possibilities, connections and friendships. More importantly, the possibility to learn. Experience. Still, having no means to filter out the novice from the master, or searching specifically for someone trained in his mastery, it was an arduous process of scrolling and tapping. Thankfully there was zero delay in the interface, and by the time Dempsey's wild eyes flew before him, he was ready to snatch just about anyone up. The way he saw it, she was the first his gaze fell upon for a reason. And as if there was some icing to that cake for him, they were both felis! Meaning, he should be able to relate more with her fighting style than, say, a felis learning from a human might.

So, swiping up a private message, he wrote some kind words layered with things like "You appear to be a mighty warrior. And I know little. It would be my honour if you would teach me. I have little to offer in ways of money, but I can offer my assistance in a moment's notice. I would be in your debt, something not to be forgotten." It was not empty flattery, as she Dempsey did appear to ring with power, and her statistics made it clear she was no flop. Still, some people did not know sincerity, and he hoped, long after the message was sent, that they were not someone who despised kindness. Some out there would kick you in the face over a smile, but shake your hand if you told them where to shove it. "Strange days." Akino thought to himself, as he waited in the clearing that he had made note of in the message. An area in the woods of Brisshal, none too dangerous for anyone, and sign that clearly he was not some scam artist. If those existed here... Of course they did, scammers were everywhere. If there is a system in place, some people's first instinct is to break it. Or work it. Anyhow, he had done his very best to show sincerity and respect, along with nothing but earnest intent. If a warrior was to respond to anything, surely it would be contact of that kind. The night's winds were alive with the heated summer scents of flore and fauna, spreading. They thrived in their fabricated universe. Truly, Akino prayed he would thrive along with them with his honest-faced approach of it all.

 

Dempsey was busy setting up her shop when she received a strange message, the user wasn't in her contacts list, so she was curious as to what this was about, and why this person would contact her of all people. Though she would never open admit it, she was desperate for something to do besides clean and stock shelves, and eagerly opened the message, wondering what amazing distractions awaited.

Akino Kokoro Ame

"You appear to be a mighty warrior. And I know little. It would be my honour if you would teach me. I have little to offer in ways of money, but I can offer my assistance in a moment's notice. I would be in your debt, something not to be forgotten."

She read for a moment, then simply tapepd in her reply;

Dempsey Fabijain

"I'm actually quite busy with something right now, but I'll make you a deal; some of your time for some of my time. I'll kick you a group invite. don't accept unless you're ready to do some grunt work and cleaning first. We can do some basic lecture while we work, then a little sparring afterwards. Sound fair?"

Invite

Dempsey Fabijain has invited you to their party. Accept?

with that she tapped the send button, and dug theough the palm menu until she found the party controls to finish the invitation. HAving an extra set of hands to help her take care of things would be wonderful, and she'd get to beat on a noob after. Today was shaping up to be an awesome day. Suddenly, something else sprung to mind, and she urgently conjured the messenger screen again.

Dempsey Fabijain

"Oh! Bring snacks too, and some drinks! I have some gold I can reimburse you with, but I kind of have a deadline here, and I already ate my lunch because I got bored, and you'll be hungry too, and trust me... It's just a great idea all around! Remember, snacks and beer!"

She snapped off the message with an inspired grin. There weren't too many things that could make her day any better besides snacks and beer, and she was perfectly happy to offer a generous tip if it meant saving her the trouble of bathing, changing clothes, and hiking down to the open air market where more the more pedestrain goods like food and drink were sold. Now with perky ears and a happily waving tail, she resumed her work, whistling happy to her fade dove.

@Akino Kokoro Ame

 

It had only been a period of several minutes, yet the felis was already filled with restless energy. Like a fire being contained in a paper bag, Akino burned with his passion! For what was to come? Already he was considering what to do if Dempsey denied him. Persist, bribe? He had nothing to offer besides his service... Still, they said to work smart, not hard. Well, down any road, he would have to warm up. And that, he guessed, would be the best way to pass the time. So, taking the ribbon from his belt and binding his mane of crimson, he began to dance with the tree he was hanging beneath. Sandals barely touching the ground as he leapt to and fro, it was suddenly his personal challenge to spend as little time in the dirt as possible. A sad thing, because warm earth on your feet was another one of the fine pleasantries of life! A pleasure people, often enough, never bothered realizing! Far too busy with their rubber soled shoes, tearing away at the ground! Rather than feel it beneath their toes, they'd rather move forward pristine, untouched. No sadness rang in Akino's heart though! Honestly, if you saw him flitting about, tail whipping like a cat with a mouse, you'd wonder if he'd stumbled onto some catnip. And he felt as if he had! Just reveling in the existence of such a marvel, and his ability to move about so completely judgement free? It was a true boon, better than any earthly monies or physical gratification. After all, the best of life came from feeling with the heart, not the body.

It did not take long for the flicker of his flame to become a full on inferno, and after trying out some spin kicks and high jabs on the "pressure points" of his tree-fiend of an opponent, he found himself panting ever-so-softly, his determined brow dappled with perspiration. The wind bathed him in her embrace, giving him a second-wind and drying the moisture, before carrying a light tone to his ears. What was it? It rang out again, before padding away like some skittish creature. Ears rotating, trying to pinpoint the noise, it suddenly dawned on his partially occupied mind. Holding his palm out and swiping open the messenger system, his gaze took in both hungrily, devouring the agreement with a joyous heart. "It's a yes!" He cheered to the sky, turning and punching the trunk of his foe in rapid succession, excitement causing every hair to stand on end. Punching an index into the "ACCEPT" button on the party invite, he quickly responded. It was a short, but sweet, answer stating that he'd be happy to grab some sustenance and lend a hand however he may, he would be there shortly.

Minutes later, he sweeping through the wood and back into the town, dodging lead-footed NPCs who had nothing better to do than share work and a smile. And occasionally a few wise words. Unlike most players, Akino recognized the NPCs as beings, as much alive and true as all creations. People were quick to dismiss them, but all the wisest players knew that they were often the key to success. Not sure how much this Fabijain could drink, he snagged them a case and threw it under one shoulder, before grabbing some hot, dough-based treats from the same shop owner. Thanking him for his kindness with a bow, he payed without reluctance and informed the shop clerk to contact him, if ever in need of help! Or even a friend! The old man laughed at the idea, but waved him off with a happy heart.

It was only a handful of moments later that the racing figure could be seen on Dempsey's horizon, and racing he was. Holding the case of drinks over a shoulder, he had jogged the entirety of the way down from the market. Stopping there, upon the crest of a hill dotted with the lilacs and violets of summertime, he felt his soul soar. A grand place, but where was his teacher? Spotting the pale form of her movements down below, his feline eyes narrowed, and he began to jog down the trail, careful not to squash their treats. "Oi, ahoy!" Akino shouted to her, a slight wave above his head causing him to stand out further. "I bring tidings of food and drink!" He might have even been purring the words, had he stopped to consider it. The taller felis looked down at his new friend, or at least he hoped they could be friends, and only for a moment let off an innocent grin, head tilting to the side lightly as he studied her. "Exactly as I expected." He said with no real implication as to what he meant, before placing the beers and food packages at her feet, as if they were an offering of some kind, and then bowed with a respect as true as the sky was blue. The respect that all deserved. "A pleasure to meet you!"

@Dempsey Fabijain

 

She'd been watching the man approach for a few moments, delighted that her offer had been accepted, and her instructions followed to the letter. She gave the man a moment to collect himself and then greeted and introduced herself properly. Given that the group member list display listed the mans name and some basic stats, this was all but a formality, but still. No point in being rude, now was there? she wiped her hands on a rag and tossed it into a nearby hand kart, then offered a handshake.

Standing at a whopping 5'4, She was at a natural handicap as far as making first impressions went, but she was dressed for working comfortably, and a good deal of her figure and physique could be seen through soiled and baggy work clothes. She was curvaceous enough that it was apparent even from a good distance that she was a female, and up close one could easily see that she was well muscled and athletic. As she straightened to offer her greeting, a bead of sweat appeared from below the hem of her high cut tunic and ran down the lines of her exposed abdominal muscles until it disappeared into the waistline of the slightly soiled cotton pants that hung low on her waist. She certainly wasn't afraid to show a little skin.

"Hey there! that was FAST! I'm Dempsey. Anyhoo, short version is that I'm getting ready to open a store in Stokbon, and I need some help with the grunt work. I am a firm believer in Quid-pro-quo however, and you look like you're just bursting with energy."

She loaded the snacks and beer into the kart she had filled almost to the top with an assortment of plant parts, then did some mental math and counted out the approximate value of the goods, throwing in a decent tip to boot.

"You're a life saver, by the way. This is thirsty work after all. Grab the kart and we can get going. We can get to know each other on the way, and I'm sure you have some questions to ask as well."

She peeled away the wax coating that covered the mouth and cork of the bottle, then pried the cork loose with her teeth, spitting it casually to the side before taking a sip and evaluating the quality. she wasn't feeling terribly picky right now, but it was good to at least present an air of taste and sophistication.

"Or, let me finish this real quick, and we can just skip to the part where we beat on each other for a while? Your call."

@Akino Kokoro Ame

 

"Are you foolin'?"

Arching a brow, Akino rested palms on his hips as he waited, studying the impressive presence Dempsey exuded. She was filled with life, vibrancy, and happiness. Clearly the female enjoyed existence here far more than the average gamer. Briefly, he wondered if there was some cause for this energy that she gave off so strongly? A lack of opportunity in reality, mayhaps? Still, he did not follow the average routine himself, and likely seemed overly enthused by it all. Further distinguishing his difference, he was absolutely unconcerned with her revealed flesh, beside the ever-so-slight fancy that it was a beautiful thing to find someone so comfortable in a revealed form. Often enough, even in reality, he would wander about with his skin closest to the sun as is could get, but folk often stared at such. And here she was, enjoying being free as the breeze, and worrying not over how she appeared. That was true freedom, if anything. Realizing she would simply look at Akino as if he were mental, he snapped to and moved over to the cart, forgetting the entire question, as it were.

"I would be overjoyed to help you set up a shop! To help in any way, by any means, is more than I could ask for! Oh, well- I suppose that isn't true, but who minds that, really? You get the whole gist of it! If I can help you out, I'd be happy to. I'unno about any life saving though. I can't seem to swing a proper punch, least I can do is carry some goods and help you along with some refreshments."

The cart was not a light burden, nor was it overly heavy. As was the way of most happenings in life, it was no more than he could handle. Funny how one could always find the right tools for a job, what with a little patience and clear thought. Part of the reason he wouldn't be touching the beer. Despite the inviting sound of glass clink, clink-ing around behind him, and the condensation that gathered on the cool beverages in the back of his mind, taunting with their slow descent along the amber... Blinking away the idea fiercely, and rolling his shoulders, he started forward with a light huff, before realizing he had no idea which way he to head. Red ears twitched back the way of his new teacher, as he turned wearing a somewhat sheepish smile.

"Alright, so first question! And you can answer after you finish your beer. Where is Stokbon? I'm thinkin' it's ooooooover..." He really was just dragging his index along the horizon, throwing around his best guess and figuring the person who actually knew where they were going would offer some correction. "...there~?"

@Dempsey Fabijain

 

She walked beside the kart and spoke casually, glad to be rid of the burden while at the same time freeing up her afternoon to get some training in. Being short on money to hire an actual employee or two was quickly starting to become a real problem to her, and while she would never tell Akino that she'd have agreed to train the Felis simply for the sake of someday having a competent sparring partner, this worked as well. She reasoned that this way, the man would be able to participate as almost-equals in a mutually beneficial arrangement as opposed to feeling as if he were a burden. Also, fuck that cart.

She took a deep pull from her bottle and began replying to the man with a light and cheerful tone, but careful and alert eyes, always scanning her surroundings for trouble out of habit. "See, I like to think two steps ahead. I could barely afford the shop, but i figured I'd go ahead and buy one now while I had the money, and everyone else was dumping their savings into guilds and crafting recipes. Those guilds look like they'll be nice once they're fully implemented, and It's pretty obvious why crafting recipes are a hot ticket item, sure... but a shop is guaranteed income... just as soon as I can afford to hire an employee or two."

She took another swig of beer and swirled the last bit of liquid joy around the bottom of the bottle, pondering her next statement idly before continuing. "I mean, with the guilds, They're shiny and new, and people are throwing money at them left and right. Once everything settles down, people are going to realize that without members, they're going nowhere fast, and I'll be able to join one without dumping my life savings into one. That's what I'm banking on anyway."

She emptied the last of her bottle, replaced the empty back in the case and helped herself to another. Obviously her first order of business would have been to correct the man, except they were, in fact heading toward the road that would take them to Stokbon. she continued her somewhat one-sided conversation by pointing to the road barely visible on the horizon and said "Ok, once you get onto that road, turn left. But anyway. Yeah. That's about the gist of my evil plan. Besides the whole action and adventure and get stronger and take over the world part, but that's this whole other thing. Say, you know anything about alchemy?"

She made the last remark with exaggerated and dismissive air, hoping the man had an ear for sarcasm as she grinned mischievously. The warm sunlight and cold beer had done wonders to lighten her mood so far and having found her second wind, she was eager to get back to the city and get back to work.

@Akino Kokoro Ame

 

Akino had the energy of one who loved to listen. As they had started their way down the road, Dempsey had quickly opened up on conversation. She was clearly a friendly enough person, and as the beverages were consumed and she felt her load lighten, her mood seemed to climb even higher. This was not a small matter to Akino, who was reveling in just finding a teacher. But a teacher with high spirits and an attitude on life that he could appreciate? Oh yes, this was a real dream come true. Not that he expected everything to go perfectly; if they were going to perfectly though, this would have been the way it would start.

And what a start it was! With the sun beaming down on them, and with the skies blue overhead, it was a nigh perfect day for outdoor work. Though the road was long, and rock filled, every bump only seemed to push Akino forward, encouraging him to move fast as he can without losing cargo. As they moved along the path, his bright eyes narrowed, hoping to block out the sun as well as give a sharper definition to his vision. His brows knitted together, blocking the sweat as it rolled from his features, so that it fell down the sides of his high-boned features. It was the exact opposite of arduous, but rather thrilling instead. Filling him with a sense of drive and satisfaction in helping another, he glanced to the side as a breath of wind swept his hair before his eyes, and saw the sun's rays fall through pale boughs of a nearby sapling. Immediately, he felt refreshed.

Clearly they were moving along the proper path, because his snow-maned companion strolled right along by his side, seemingly no cares weighing down her shoulders. So, he began devoting landmarks to his memory, memorizing the path for future reference. At the same time, he devoted equal attention to turning an ear towards Fabijain, so as not to miss a single word. He was hanging onto every sensation, every experience with as much concentration he could muster. It was not difficult at all, for his mind to follow the tracks through the grasses beside the road, while noting the gnarled wooden beast that lay ahead at the curve. And the words his new companion spoke to him were fascinating. He knew so little of life in this wondrous dimension, and to hear the inner thoughts of one who had much experience was a blessing not many people received.

And yet, he said so little. As was typical, he found himself preferring her voice over his, and more over finding any input he might have added to be a waste of breath. Far better to do his duty, and show appreciation for sharing the insight. He did this through performing the task of hauling the cart to the best of his ability, and by carefully considering each word. Was it true that a steady income was a better investment than building a Guild? It depends on what one was investing in it for, he supposed. Still, Dempsey's reasoning was sound and full of logic.

Upon hearing a joke, his ears twitched somewhat, and his lips curled with wry amusement. Oh if only one's real world skills transferred into this mystical realm. What tales he could tell about the herbal remedies he would make, and the nights he would stay up simply tending to his herb garden. And yet still, it was more ironic that Dempsey would mention something that he happened to know. Not here though, not as Akino.

"In another life, maybe." It was all he added, a brief comment laden with deeper meaning, and an amused smile thrown Dempsey's way as he steadily moved towards the turn she had pointed out to him, wooden sandals tapping a light melody as he plodded along with the cart. A moment later, he added. "With the way your mind seems to work, I am sure your shop will do very well and you will have gold to invest in anything you desire." He spoke reverently, almost as if he were speaking to a statue in a temple. This was just his way of showing calm, of course, as his energy flowed and pumped no less now than before. It was more that he had finally found a place to channel it.

@Dempsey Fabijain

 

Switching gears from beer to snacks, she curiously dug into the parcel of steamed buns to see what surprises lay in store for her. Though not overly fond of anything that didn't have meat as a main ingredient, she was in no position to be picky, and she admitted to herself that she could have been a little more specific. She brightened visibly as she took her first and second bite though, delighted to discovered that they were stuffed in the center with little balls of ground pork and minced ginger. After this, she couldn't finish the snack quickly enough, but remembered that she still had to keep up her end of the bargain.

She began by pointing out something that is eitehr painfully obvious or a complete mystery to new players. "I bet you're wondering why I didn't hop on teh cart and tell you to double time it back to the city as the first part of your training?" she paused, not long enough for him to answer, but enough time to roll the question around in his mind once or twice before continuing; "Simple really. You get mastery points at an equal rate no matter what you;re doing. they just happen naturally. Practice is still a great way to earn them though. Half the battle is knowing your own limits, knowing exactly effective your skills are in a variety of situations, and most importantly... knowing what you CAN'T do."

'knowing what you can't do' was muffled by a mouth full of steamed bun, and she cut her explanation short, both to give the man the opportunity to speak, and because steamed buns were good. She was enjoying their little stroll and was almost displeased to see the considerable walls of Stokbon materialize in the distance. She tried to say something that was too muffled to understand, then swallowed and repeated herself. "That's Stokbon. Biggest city in the game so far, and that's going to wind up being your home for now, unless you like sleeping on the ground a lot."

She continued onward wordlessly, just taking a minute to watch the city slowly growing on the horizon as the pair made their way towards the impressively large city

@Akino Kokoro Ame

 

So, no matter how you trained or what you were doing... you earned mastery points? While this seemed like a somewhat pointless mechanism to him at first, Akino chalked that thought up to ignorance a moment later. He had begun to understand this system, yes. But no where near the point of its reasoning becoming crystalline in its method. There were intricacies likely considered far beyond whatever it was his in the moment mind could conjure. And of course, the way you train did matter. Sure, not in the way of mastery points, as those came naturally, but in a far more realistic form! Yes, with continuous training with an experienced and skilled teacher, such as the mighty Dempsey Fabijain here, one's understanding of their mastery and its depths would compound on an almost infinite scale! An exaggeration? Mayhaps! Or maybe not! Either way, you definitely were better off learning from one with wisdom than without. As was established as his standard at this point, the male's input was minimal and humble.

"Know your limits, and work smart instead of hard. I think I understand." He thought silently for a moment then, feeling the peace of the journey to fuel his learning. "We are always training, always learning. Every moment is a lesson..." He tacked on in a wondering tone, a fractal of the system's larger reasoning dawning upon him and lulling him into a ponder-filled silence.

Sniffing their air lightly, the heady smell of baked doe drifted over to his nostrils and wagged a tempting finger across them. Oh, he could smell all the wondrous herbs they had used to make the confectionery contraption! Wait, oh wait, he smelt meat within? Yes, there was indeed meat! He had no idea that he had chosen meat filled treats! At the time of choosing, he had been filled with such an eagerness that he had no time to read. On a whim, the redhead had snapped his finger out towards the most crisp and appetizing parcel, and demanded twenty. The baker had been so overwhelmed with Akino's desire for the goods that he was given not even a breath to inquire over the large quantity. And of course, now smelling the thyme and turmeric that placed his stomach on a hook, he realized why he had ordered a more than a dozen, which was actually closer to two! Still he felt no desire to stop, but only offer up a silent prayer that even a few of the meat rolls would remain once they arrived.

Still, Shīfu she was, and student he remained. As such, it was neither his place to request anything of her, nor debate what it was she decided to do. In truth, he already ranked this bit of time they had shared as well worth twenty meat rolls and twelve beers. After all, he learned much from his teacher already; likely far more than she expected. A true teacher did so through more than just words, and a true student learns through more than just their ears. So far, the both of them were fitting their roles pretty well.

After a brief stint of silence, or as silent as it might be over Dempsey's fervid consumption, you would think she had never eaten meat rolls before and never would again, the smaller-but-stronger fighter would speak up with a mouth full, then swallow and try again. Hearing her words, his own gaze snapped away from the scenery, looking forward. A slight thrill filled him, as he knew he was crossing a threshold in his life here.

"Home."

He rolled he sound on his tongue, considering it. It reminded him of his old home, certainly. Now though... He saw the entire world as both his home and his bed. Not that he was about to deny a place to make some roots, even for just a while.

"I like sleep, no matter where it is. Home included." Thinking for a moment, he added on "And I follow you." with a tone of respect for his teacher.

@Dempsey Fabijain

 

Idle chatter and various assorted anecdotes and pointers filled the air as the two approached the towering city gates. The sight was still impressive for Dempsey, and she could only imagine how the quiet young man felt as he approached for the first time. Even compared to the urban glass, concrete, and steel city-scapes of the year 2024, the city of Stokbon still held it's own, and even exceeded them in a way. Towering walls interrupted by even taller towers encompassed the city, and just outside these walls, signs of buzzing construction and expansion could be seen encircling the city like the rough bark of a mighty old oak tree.

The two were stopped for a cursory inspection at the gate where papers were inspected, and a small fee was offered for the privilege of bringing potentially dangerous goods into the city. She knew too well that her new companion was hauling a cart of mostly harmless components, but more than a small number of them could also be used to create dangerous combustibles and toxic poisons as well, were one thus inclined. She amenably agreed to the tax without as much as a word of complaint, hoping the fruits of her days labor wouldn't be closely scrutinized.

As they passed through the gate and the arched tunnel that granted access to the city beneath it's impressive walls, she stopped Akino with a left hand on his shoulder using the right to gesture toward the bustling streets with her right.

"Welcome to Stokbon. We're going to drop this stuff off real quick, and then get to it. I know you probably have a lot of questions as to what is where, but we can discuss that all later. After we get some sparring in, I'll show you around the neighborhood I live in. It's mostly a comercial district, but there are also the basics too, and the street food is incredible. OH! and you have to meet Kebab guy. I get breakfast from him almost every morning. Good stuff."

She took the lead now and guided the pair off the main street as soon as it could be managed, dreading getting stranded in the snails crawl of main street traffic. The two wove down a maze of side streets and alley ways. She imagined that Akino was fairly confused, but the explanation would wait. She had a love/hate relationship with the cities crowds, and when all she wanted to do was get home after a long day usually hate won the inner conflict.

She paused from time to time to check behind her, making sure the eager younger man was still alive and following, but for the time being, the majority of her attention was directed towards navigating the winding streets and watching the crowds for unexpected but possible signs of trouble.

@Akino Kokoro Ame

 

Ah, the city. The largest one in all of this grand creation, according to his teacher. And he had no reason to doubt that statement, of course. Dempsey certainly carried the air of one who knew the lay of the land, a trait found typically among those who have traveled said land. Though you could always find that one fellow who just knew where to go. The Traveler's Instinct, as Akino liked to call such. And, in his experience, the greatest adventurers where those who possessed both the knowledge of experience, which supplemented their instinct! And that, if you asked the easily impressed Akino, was Dempsey in a nut shell. One who possessed both instinct and experience. Of course, the easily impressible side of him had no play in this matter, truthfully. He was a spiritual young man, who had true faith in his impressions, as well as his own instincts. That was, after all, what he had used to guide him to Dempsey in the first place, and it was working out well for him so far.

It was the sight of the city on the horizon that silenced him; or his racing mind, more accurately. It was as impressive as Manhattan's skyline, in its own particularly rugged way. It left the resounding sense of hard work, determination, and sight into the future that all aspiring cities gave one. It was the truest moment of sensation he had ever felt in the game. Thus far. All that activity, all that life, it was truly awe inspiring. And if you could the dreamer's spirit in a scene, that would have had to be it.

Watching the transaction with the guards was a fascinating thing to him. It was so unlike the systems of the real world, yet it the energy surrounding it felt so familiar. Likely it was just some odd stirrings of the soul. One past life or another ringing out in harmony with the moment, and he briefly wondered if he had been a student helping his teacher with such things before. This, as well as having an eye into the inner mechanisms of city life here, both fueled him to watch the handing off of funds closely. Considering the extra tax, he found it more of a kindness than an extra burden. After all, the city could easily turn away all possibly dangerous goods in the name of safety, and it would be understandable. However, crime must be subtle enough within that they had enough trust for how the items were to be handled. Surely Dempsey was also rewarded some extra trust for being an adventurer. It stands to reason that a city would be lax with the likes of them, because they encouraged economic growth more than your standard NPC. Considering all the money an adventurer made in their travels, and all the money they could make through opening a shop that caters to adventurers specifically? Good economic growth in that sort of business. Either road it went, it was an interesting exchange to the experience-hungry youth. He was sure to bid farewell to each of the guards as they moved on under the wall, and through the striking depths of the passage. Here, the road was smoothed over by the passage of many carts and man-made pathways, which was by far one Akino's favourite parts.

Seeing the hand suddenly pressed before him, he stopped short and stared at it as if it were a snake. He followed her motions with his eyes, glancing at the sign and the activity, then back to her as she spoke. Being a city boy, it was all familiar to him, and he nodded calmly to the words. Though at the mention of "meat-ing the Kebab guy." he had just had to laugh a bit, and so he did. He wasn't sure if Dempsey had meant the word play, but it sure was funny to him, and he offered no explanation to the sudden amusement.

"I'm looking forward to it. All of it." He beamed brightly at his teacher, before following down the lively roads. Ah, hustle and bustle. Truly an invigorating thing, coming out from the wild and into city life. Up until this moment, Akino had been very careful to avoid any cities or settlements as much as he possibly could. It was all too familiar, and he desired fresh life. Not to say that he did not love it all, he simply preferred to experience what he was not so free to do in reality. When a group of young beggars, NPCs, came rushing up asking for coin, he gave each of them three with a grin. Code or not, their laughter and appreciation was just as real to him.

When they took a turn down a smaller, "off the beaten path" way, it was far from confusion that he felt. It was familiarity, and a true sense of home. His real home, that is. One did not take the main roads in their home town, after all. He moved the side ways, the ways only the locals used to avoid the bustle. When his teacher would check if he were there, she would see him as close on her heels as he could be, without stepping on them. As she navigated her way through the varying streets of Stokbon, he saw the spark of what was sensed in her earlier. The gleam of experience and instinct melding together to lead them decisively down each way, while remaining alert. And every time she looked back, Dempsey would spot him watching her with an intent smile, as if even this were a lesson. Not to say that he, too, was not remaining alert. Especially with him taking up the rear. It would be simple, though unwise, for a thief to rush them from the rear. He now understood how helpful an extra pair of hands could be in these narrow passages. Especially if and when it came time for them to become fists.

@Dempsey Fabijain

 

She sighed with satisfaction and a bit of pride as the two came to a halt at the front door of a small shop. It looked almost indistinguishable from any other on the street except for a large bay window that she intended to use to display a selection of products once she could afford to have the window enchanted to be more durable than ordinary glass, and a plain wooden sign hanging above the door that read "Stokbon Chymist" with the image of a pestle and mortar carved below. She fished in her pocket for a moment before producing a key tied to a short length of plain brown cord. She'd saved almost everything she'd earned since she'd begin playing to pay for the shop and get her business going, so of course she felt a certain thrill every time she entered.

The interior of the shop was dimly lit by the afternoon sunlight pouring in through the window that comprised most of the shops storefront, and further inside was a series of shelves and crates packed with empty bottles, laboratory glassware, and other paraphernalia of the trade. She gestured to Akino to pull the cart inside and leave it wherever.

"So this is where I live, and sort-of work. I'm kind of in a hurry, because I need to get up and running sooner than later. there's a city-wide fee on shops like this that needs to be paid on the first of the month. I have enough to cover it already, but I'm hoping to start making money sooner than later or I might be in trouble here in a while."

She turned to face Akino with a satisfied smile. "I figure while all those other knuckleheads are busy throwing all their gold and resources into guilds, ill take advantage and get my shop up and running before everyone else has one. This IS actually the first player owned shop in the game, but only by about ten minutes. I hired an assistant the other day to run the day to day stuff too, but she's not ready to start yet."

She flopped down unceremoniously on the nearest crate and offered Akino a beer and a steamed bun.

"have at. You have to be thirsty by now."

She took one more opportunity to look around, a little overwhelmed by the amount of work that still needed to be done. Everything needed to be swept, wiped down, or dusted, then shelves arranged and stocked, and that wasn't even counting the time and effort it would take to stock actual inventory. She paid a hefty sum to have the dry goods that she could make a small profit from, but were mostly there to attract buyers who'd likely also buy a few ingredients and tinctures while they were shopping.

At the same time, she didn't want to throw too much work into Akinos lap right away, lest he feel cheated and disappear. She decided that after a quick break, they could go out into the mostly empty street and get a quick work out and sparring session in, then see how he felt afterwards.

@Akino Kokoro Ame

 

Akino followed his shifu into her shop, and was taken by the strong energy within. It felt alive, crackling, just waiting to snap up and sweep you away into a frenzy. Vibrating with the love Dempsey had poured into it, no doubt. It was as if, at any moment, you would be swept away by the crowds of eager customers flowing in; masses seeking poultices to balm their wounds, and potions to conquer their foes. Lights could jump to life at any moment, beckoning the passer by, drawing them in with their mystic warmth. He felt any wear on his body fade the moment he had passed through the entrance, thrown off him by the sudden onslaught of passion that filled the walls. The mind whirled at seeing all of its potential, rising higher and higher. Still, it would be nice to have a bun and a beer. Attempting to ignore the apparitions of success, the student would take the cart deeper into the shop, backing it into a corner gently, so as to avoid all the fragile glass work that littered the place. Succeeding in this, he returned to the snow-maned felis, bowing slightly as he took the foodstuffs from her hands, smiling with appreciation.

"Thank you, I did work up a bit of sweat. It feels refreshing to do simple, good work like this."

Turning away, Akino moved across the floor slowly then, feet brushing light against the ground as he considered the impressive displays of alchemy equipment, moving towards the pool of light that came from the grand window of the front. All of it glittered, like pale spirits that shimmered and danced in the sunlight. They filled the place with their wild glow that whispered of brews that would alter the tide of battles, concoctions that would make the impossible probable in an instant. It was a mighty dream, but he was positive that such things were out of no soul's power, if they were devoted to it. And Dempsey seemed far from lacking in devotion. Floating on through the maze of crystal, and around the walls of stacked wooden crates, the redhead smiled a true cat's grin, for the sill beneath the window was wide and empty. A perfect place to soak up some sun while he consumed the treat. Settling on the wood, which was warm from its place in the light, he crossed his legs beneath one another and closed his eyes, touching his palms together before his chest.

"Thank you Maker for the many blessings of this world, and thank you for the gifts before me. Thank you most of all for my teacher, Dempsey. May I be receptive to her wisdom, and may you bless her shop with great success. Amen." Bowing his head and opening his bright eyes once more, he felt his energy shift. His fierce smile was filled with a hearty peace now, his golden eyes settled on Dempsey with an intent on studying every word she spoke and every move she made. Saying nothing else, a sharp, claw-like nail removed the covering from the beer, while he took a bite from his bun. He studied her as he ate in a matter of moments; three bites of the bun, and two long swigs of the beer, and he had finished his treat. Only then, after a deep breath, did he speak again.

"I admire the hard work you have put in here. I did not say so at first, but I could feel how much of yourself you have placed within these walls. They rise and fall with the life you have breathed into them. It feels almost like a greater extension of your spirit, if that makes any sense... The amount of planning and forethought must be overwhelming at times, but I can feel the pride you take in it. It's a great shop you have here, so I say don't worry about a thing! I am positive you will have no trouble at all. And, again, I am happy to help in any way I can, for as long as you need it. I am honored that you would allow me to enter your home, and your place of passion, Shifu."

He offered the last word tentatively, unsure how she would take the title. Bowing his head once again, he rose from his seat beneath the window, his body now thriving off the warmth that it absorbed. The tail that swayed behind him was racing, eager to hear what task was next for them. Akino would be content with more labor, clearly, but he would have been just as eager to get his own buns whooped by Dempsey in a sparring match. Briefly, he wondered if his Shifu ever went on epic quests in search of rare ingredients. 'I'll have to ask her sometime.' he thought whimsically, rolling his shoulders and stretching out any lethargy sitting an eating may have lent him. There was none of course, but he wanted to be limber for whatever came next.

@Dempsey Fabijain

 

he listened to the almost overly thoughtful man speak, and pondered his words for a moment. It was true that she took a good deal of pride in her achievement thus far, but the yong man did have a penchant for the dramatic in his speech. she shrugged. As log as everyone was having fun, it was fine she supposed. She helped herself to anotehr snack and abeer, sprawling lazily on the crate she'd decided was her perch for the duration of her break. She stared thoughtfully at the ceiling as she tried to formulate a response of sorts.

"So, how about I finish this and then we go out and beat on each other for a while. We'll just do a duel just in case, but try to pull your punches so we don't have to waste consumables healing up after. Sound good?"

As soon as she finished speaking, her Axolotl decided to make an appearance, swimming lazily through the air and coming to rest on the floor a good distance away from the two Felis. While the thing was comfortable around her when the two were alone, it was still wary of newcomers, especially since everyone it met wanted to try to grab it or pet it or poke it for some reason that was beyond it's understanding. The thing hovered a few inches off the ground with its legs and tail working slowly as if it were actually swimming, and it gave off a soft white glow which only served to make the thing look more interesting and outlandish. she spoke in a hushed tone;

"Hey... Don't do anything sudden, but look! I didn't think it would come out with you here though... Isn't it cute? I just got him a few days ago"

She gestured slowly but urgently, pointing at the outlandish creature with enthusiasm. Even a normal axolotl looked particularly strange as far as animals went, but this one was pure white with yellow eyes and antenna. It also floated in the air, glowed a soft white, and dripped water from it's tail that seemingly materialized from nowhere. While it was simply a vanity pet, it was her most prized and valuable possession.

@Akino Kokoro Ame

 

"Sounds great! I'm looking forward to seeing your style in action."

Throwing a few light jabs into the air for emphasis, the redhead chuckles some, amused by the idea of having to pull his punches against a skilled fighter like her. Stepping forward to the package of food, he sticks a hand in and blindly retrieve another beer from its depths, dropping the empty bottle from his previous drink into the now empty case. He uncovers it with a claw, and places the rubbish beside the case in the bag, figuring he could dispose of the lot of it when it was depleted fully. Rolling his head about on his shoulders as he returned to his window seat, he sprawled in a manner similar to his Shifu, unconsciously, sighing out audibly. Must have been a felis thing. He let his tail hang over the edge, swaying to and fro as he sipped his drink. When the lovely little critter came out to join them, his only reaction was a gentle grin, though his tail did move a bit faster now.

"Maker, it is cute. And so sweet looking, eh? I love its markings. Does the little one have a name?"

Being a Beast Tamer, he had no inclination to poke or prod. In fact, he knew doing so would be the opposite of a friendly action, and would only frighten the beastie. Rather, he sat up in his seat once more, golden eyes gleaming with a friendly glow as he regarded the fellow. Or was it a female? He couldn't tell. Watching one of the droplets of water float across the room, he cocks his head to the side some, ears twitching. Glancing back down at the mystical beast, his mind is taken to his own furry-friend-to-be. Rummaging in his back for a second or two, he let's out an "Aha!" as he withdraws a pale egg, placing it in his lap so that the sun could shine across its shell. Humming lovingly, calloused fingers would brush the smooth surface and feel the life vibrating within. Akino's eyes rose to Dempsey's as he went on speaking.

"I wonder what my friend here will be~ It is close to hatching, I can feel it. Once it does, we should let our companions play some!"

Taking the fabric the egg had been stored in earlier, he began to roll and fold it into a makeshift nest. Placing it down by the corner of the window, sitting halfway between a patch of sun and some shade, the felis lays down the egg tenderly, and once again sprawls across the sill. On his stomach now, he propped his head up on two elbows and watched the egg, considering it, then looked over to the Axolotl once again, speaking to it in the sweet tone of one who has worked with animals before.

"I just know that you and this little fellow will be good friends. Ever thought of being a beast tamer, Shifu?" The last bit was directed at his snow-maned teacher, of course. He was rather excited with the fact that they both had an animal affiliation, even if it wasn't Dempsey's mastery. One more fact to bond with his teacher over.

@Dempsey Fabijain