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Dark Crow Rising
V4 Incline 45: Nin

V4 Incline 45: Nin

Breaking out onto the open road, Rose-sweerui's bulbs light up, "So... To repeat what you said to me earlier. You met some... Root... Last night, who was coming onto you, and you want me here with you to keep it off of you?"

Looking down her way, I nod.

"Yes, yes. That would be a very useful and helpful thing for you to do. At least, while we are still in this town. I don't want you following me out until we're leaving proper." I clarify, adding on the warning in case she really is considering stalking me when we're out hunting.

"A little disappointing that I cannot come and watch you prove yourself. But I am glad to know you value my companionship enough to have me ward off someone else!" she beams out, her innocent smile flanked by the reddest pair of cheeks I've ever seen. Her tail swishes enthusiastically, and I watch it for a short spell. Looking at her smile again, one finds its way onto my face, too.

Turning my attention away from her as we make the final approach, I glance around. I find a banner fluttering above a fairly thick-looking, metal reinforced wood door. Made up of primarily a dark grey that seems to be inspired by the local mountains. A thrice-ended brass and typical brick coloured core takes up the middle. Like little branches, I assume it's meant to represent the town and its layout.

Within each of the three arms is an item. What looks to be a gun, a spear and a... Leg? Not a human one, though. Blinking around, I find what appears to be stables for their animals. Ah, they have those insect creatures!

Vapooliar showed me them the night she took me to see snow or about then... The name is slipping through my mind, unfortunately.

But the leg in the banner is probably referring to them. Which, I suppose, means the images are meant to be representative of the valley-riders' main equipment pieces. The spear and gun are easy enough to grasp the meaning of. After all, I've been shot at by guns and people have held spear tips to my throat before.

Moving my mind away from such bad memories, I try to focus on something more neutral. The stables are quite big; I guess. Reminds me of the workshops and garages for vehicles back home. And, from what I am able to glimpse from here, they're set up much like them, too. Rows upon rows of tools and parts and other bits of heavy-duty equipment.

"Is there anything you need of me before we go in?" I ask Rose-sweerui, putting my claw on the door and applying a little bit of pressure. The heavy thing moves as if it was a hollow bit of cardboard. My chitter bits snap on their drumming bone.

"Well... As I am here on your behalf. To keep you safe from those who might seek you... I would be enthralled by the idea of you doing the same for me," she answers, her eyes fluttering as I get a pearly smile on top of it. Her hands come together, tightening up at the top of her arms and putting more force onto her chest. Like how they move up, my eyes do the same.

"But, I thought you liked being the centre of attention?" I ask her, a little baffled now that my mind is back in order.

"Only when I have something to show off!" she insists, and the middle sticks with me.

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"You always show off." I mutter sarcastically and she giggles.

"I know." she glees, her arms wrapping around my closest one as if I am taking her out for the night.

"Oh, what will I do with you?" I practically whisper to myself.

"Shall we go in then, my precious love?" she asks, stepping ahead and pushing my claw forward.

"Yeah, we can do that. Getting bored with what I can see out here." I say to her, applying my efforts with a gentle push. The ease with which the thick, metal-reinforced oak opens annoys me to the point of an eye twitch. I miss the days of effort being needed on the small things... Am I the only one in the world who experiences this problem? I'll probably end up going insane hearing the dismissive minds of the world.

Rose-sweerui's posture snaps into something with more taunt to it, its elegance more so tarty. We're now the centre of attention for all the combat dressed men and women in this building. Whatever laughter and talking I can hear, it's the vestiges of what has already died. The door thunders on its slamming return.

Trying to look around in an effort to ignore the crowd's gaze, Rose-sweerui delights in it.

Keeping my attention on the walls and the cavernously high ceiling, my mind rambles on about the decorations. There's quite a lot up here. Whatever the script is, though, I cannot read nor even see clearly, for that matter. Thankfully, I don't need to be able to read to focus on the rest. More banners of different kinds, smaller ones of what is out front. Armour pieces, weapons, and displays for animal bones of all kinds.

I almost want to laugh. What seems to be an intact sadroobell skull is the centrepiece for one part of the décor. Bet I could certainly spice this place up if I could get back my whole skeleton from that hunter place. Make a right impressive display with the full thing on hand. Well, depending on how people find the lack of a jawbone to be, anyway.

Though, with the competitive spirit on mind right now, I have to wonder. Does Futhans and the other hunters have a rivalry with the men and women of this place? It seems like there's a fair bit of overlap with what the two groups handle. Though, one is beasts first and foremost and I am suspecting a lot of these displays are gruesomely human in source. The metal spikes on the wall don't seem to be metal either... More like armoured points.

I glance to Rose-sweerui, who thankfully hasn't seemed to notice the hidden barbarity hidden amongst the finer tastes.

"Well, well, look who it is! What you doing down here, Nin?" Neeameth calls out cheerfully, bringing some noise back into the quiet place. Whatever has their attention, some finally get over it. Again, they're not looking at me, but what is around... Neeameth is chuffing over what I've somehow brought in with me.

Rose-sweerui takes a step ahead and blocks my front, sprawling over me almost defensively. Guess I don't need to tell Rose-sweerui that this is the one she needs to look out for. Honestly, were it not for Neeameth's calling of my name, I'd have missed her. What must've been her barmaid uniform being gone and all. Now she's dressed up for combat, or, at least, the anticipation of it.

"Told you before when we met, work." I answer, moving into a position that's more comfortable for Rose-sweerui. Maybe it will help her act more intimately? I hope so.

Neeameth's eyes meet hers and I think I've cut myself noticing that.

"I suppose this is the one you were on about? The one who is dressed for, in your words, discreet, filthy places?" Neeameth asks, her attempts to spread discord not panning out. I ignore the lie. Rose-sweerui guffaws, her back straightening out so she can stride up to the human. Though shorter, she's not lacking in fighting spirit.

"The mere fact the gods and goddesses have granted me a body worth showing off like this is telling enough. But, what about you, Root? You sure are quite lacking in your coverings." Rose-sweerui snarls, her ears angling in such a way as to seem bladed. Her tail whips aggressively behind her, just waiting for the moment to strike a body.

"Where's the man in charge?" I ask Neeameth, hoping to draw myself and my travel partner out of a petty fight. She latches onto my request, handing resting on a sword that's probably feeling a little enclosed right now.