Hearing a knock at the door, I get up and head on over. Putting one foot securely by it, I grip the handle to try and make sure no one can just walk on in. I double check I have everything on, just in case. Yes. Got my mask, hat, cloak and all the bandages going round and round.

“Who is it?” I ask, a familiar noise eking out its existence.

“It’s me, Einervaene. C-Can I come in? Rianta... Rianta-chira has something she wants me to show you.” Einervaene explains and I get to opening the door as I am safely clothed up. I wave her in and sit with my legs out of the way, cloak wrapped up.

“So, what is it she wants me to see?” I question, a little baffled as this is a first. Rose’lhia’s always been the kind to just show me it herself. Often showing herself off if it’s a matter of clothing, like this seems to be. Einervaene’s face turns, her cheeks spotted red.

“She... Uh... Tried this on and... Um.” Einervaene’s face heats up further. A thousand words in a single picture.

“Ah, I see.” I let out, taking the underwear set into my claws. My mind goes empty. It’s nothing special by her standards and I honestly cannot tell what it is that I am supposed to be remarking on. Does she want my thoughts on the style or the quality of its make? Einervaene or literally any other woman will be better here.

Only thing I can say for certain is that she will need to lose the stockings as proper feet are the audience.

“Tell her... Tell her that I like it, but not to cause any trouble.” I finally answer, handing the clothes back, and Einervaene can’t help but let out a noise. She struggles to fight back a smile and breaks down a bit further.

“I wish she listened to that extent.” Einervaene all but gasps as she struggles to find the air for her words. She puts the clothes down near the door and I mind the foreign beauty as she gathers some other things. I get back to the task of sorting out all these clothes and the bag.

“Actually, adding to that, try to stop her from grabbing anything new. We’ll be heading off soon, so I need to make sure the bag fills properly. Especially if you’re still interested in coming...?” I explain, meeting her eyes as she watches me sort through another pile of panties. Einervaene wipes her cheeks gently, almost as if she’s embarrassed on my behalf. She doesn’t have to be. I’m plenty flustered as is touching so many skimpy bras.

Rose-sweerui’s tendency to touch me half-bare makes it not all that much effort to… Fill out the cups, imaginatively.

She smiles, “I would be happy to. But, uh, you haven’t put away my usual outfit, have you?”

“I’ve kept it separate. Should be in your usual spot.” I explain, offering a quick digit for a direction.

“I’ll be swapping outfits. Running over here in this kimono is not advisable!” Einervaene wants to giggle over and I huff. Yeah, Rose-sweerui certainly has that kind of motivation on someone.

“Give it to me when you’re done, ideally folded up neatly. I can pop it in with Rose-sweerui’s so that they’re together.” I explain, setting aside my companion’s fancy new outfit and its assorted bits. I mean, I probably was going to leave it for last anyway. Those wooden whatevers disrupt the packing process too much.

Lingering on some utensils as I assign the smaller pockets and spaces properly, I think back to home. My old toolbox, or, rather, the ones I borrowed, I never had to put much thought into their storage. There were miserable sods who handled all the quartermastery themselves. All I had to do was follow the paint and chalk and make sure I hadn’t lost anything.

I guess one redeeming thing about this storage torment is that I can, well, punch clothes down. Not that it’s really an option. These claws are horrible for neat folding. Too much air is getting caught in the clothes and it needs to be forced out while there is still a place for it to go. Gods, maybe we should buy some cases or crates before we leave? Will make it look lighter, too, in the event more sadroobells are in the air.

Would be more of a hassle to carry, though... My tongue clicks. I’ve carried enough awkward loads to know how straining such abrupt distribution can be. Having two hands for a bucket is one thing, having to carry three, two barely having two fingers each is another thing entirely.

“Einervaene’s been travelling for a while. She should be palatable to carrying some of her own stuff.” I ponder openly, a door clicking shut.

“What was that, sorry?” Einervaene asks as she finishes getting her hair in order. I chuckle on the inside, realising I might’ve forgotten to remark on any changed hair dos.

“Oh, nothing, was just muttering.” I lie, cautious of the idea she might be willing to say ‘no’ if I say it now. Should probably force it on her at a later date. A little while out of town, perhaps? That way, she can’t really argue with any alternative.

“Ok. Well, here you go, Nin-kischu.” Einervaene beams and I give her a nod as I take the kimono and its bits. She takes the outfit but lingers. I turn to look at her and note the way her eyes are.

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“Something wrong?” I ask, and she shakes her head.

“A woman asked us a strange question earlier. I thought that meant something bad happened,” she explains quickly, taking a step away.

“Mmm. Well, I’m fine, as you can see. Must’ve just been that, a strange question.” I shrug over, Neeameth crossing my mind given what she tried earlier. Well, if it made Einervaene worry like that, she must’ve been acting in an official capacity. Or it was another valley-rider doing their rounds. Soon not to be much of our problem, anyway.

“Yeah... Well, uh, I best get back to Rianta-chira. I’m not sure how well she’s handling being... N-Naked.”

“She’s probably guffawing over something like ‘You’ll never be able to appreciate these tits!’ or...” I go, chuckling a bit at my imitation and Einervaene simply smiles.

“I can imagine that, something about you thrown in.” she’s nervous to giggle over and I nod along.

“Oh, can you bring her here, actually, if you can?” I ask and Einervaene gives me a quick nod and then a wave. Raising a claw, the door closes behind me and I get back to work.

Filing the essentials near the top of the bag this time, I find myself wanting to pinch my brow. Food has not been the easiest of things to deal with since losing my proper hands. An osibindah jaw is not much for clean eating and drinking, either. Guess I can fit some practice in?

Shrugging, I nab a bag and a flask and pop my bottom onto the nearest seat. The mask and hat come off, as do the bandages, to an extent. I eye the door with a ‘hmmm’ mixing in with my chitters. I get up and pull a small chair over, blocking the damnable thing with my new seat.

As carefully as I can manage, I open the bag and unscrew the flask. I stare, almost hopelessly, as I mind how my claws feel right now. The amount of digits I have is the same. It’s been the same for an unfortunate short while now. Three a limb, six in total. And, I still can’t get used to it...

Gods, damn it. How am I supposed to do anything with finesse when my digits simply won’t allow it? Three sausages a limb and they don’t even have the decency to be actual sausage. All I have are these flesh-thick things coated in cumbersome natural armour. Even making a fist is a challenge with how the plates come together.

“Mmm... Maybe if I...?” I ask myself, putting the food down and cupping the underside of my awkward jaw. Tilting my neck a bit, I slowly pour some of the flask’s contents down my throat. My tongue dances in disgust and I nearly cough it all back up. Ah, stick a bug right back into its hole. This is some of Rose’s wine!

Following the sensation of a drip, I stare with growing agitation. Correction, not wine, runny red dye. I try to use my cloak to rub some of the bandages clean, but I get nowhere with it. Grumbling a noise out, I strip down out of the rest of my bandages and toss them.

Almost as if to taunt me, the red mark stares back at me. Gesturing whatever swear I can at the pile of rags, I move onto the food. At least something of use came out of the drink test, anyhow. I can drink without it being too much of a mess. If liquid can do me fine, food will go down as well.

Doing my best, I pour a small pile of dried fruit out across my palm and free up my other claw. Thinking at first to just tip it all into my mouth, I dread to wonder if I can make these digits work. Going about it however I can, I pinch a clump or individual pieces of food until my palm is clean of it. I blink and sigh at how much effort that was given how little I actually had access to.

“I wonder if those two are nearly done and close?” I question myself to stave off my growing frustrations. I hope we leave soon. Head on out to this Thrurstradtur place so I can get my old body back. I can’t be dealing with this anymore. Everything is so hard now. Anything that needs precision is…

I might as well be an invalid. A cripple! A good for nothing bug-

“DAMN IT!” I bark, tossing the closest thing off of its footing. Disturbing a curtain, tt smashes on the wall, denting it.

Great... More broken stuff.

We’ve been here in Tryhpeltzweig for too long. Quite some time. I can’t be doing this anymore. I want to be free of this constant caution. Much as I appreciate the niceties of Brewbrt, all good things must end.

Getting up, I set the chair aside and walk to the disturbed curtain. Going beyond it, I open myself up to the edges of the balcony and take in the fresh air. Slinking out of view, the door knocks. Is that...?

“My love, it is me. Can I come in?” Rose-sweerui calls out with an odd noise to her voice. Shrugging over how it must be the door being in the way, I head on over. She’s back quicker than I thought she would be, too. Perhaps she was chased half-way and Einervaene met her there? Should be quite amusing to hear about.

Anything to put an end to my foul mood...

I look down at my body and mind how my heart feels. With how much stress Rose causes me, would be nice to get one back on her. Give her a spook and all that with my body. Can even close the door right after and dress all up in time before someone comes!

“Is anyone else out there?” I ask, just to be sure as I run a scenario through my head. All I need to do is grab her, pull her in, and only let it be a blur. Maybe I should spook her inside the room, make it all dark? Where are the lights... Ah, here!

I frown as I note the lack of a response. This is, odd. Normally, she’s quite quick to give me an answer. Unless she has Einervaene making sure the hall is clear? Given the recent run in with Neeameth, that is wise, actually. But, still, shouldn’t I have heard her? Bah, whatever.

Guess I should still play it safe and make sure I am not in the open. Hide around the corner of the door and all. Slam it shut when I give her that good old jump scare! Something, anything, to have a little fun right now.

A grin forms, and I cackle as some heavier steps start to come. Guess Einervaene also had to scout with all of Rose-sweerui’s shopping. Poor girl. Anyway... I’ve got a laugh to have!

“Alright, you can come on in now...” I let out with a sneaky snicker as I let her handle the door, mostly. Setting myself up in the shadows, I put a careful spring into my legs. The door opens, spreading light across where I put my bandages. Closing my eyes in the initial anticipation, my chitters get the better of me and mix with my giggles.

I jump out and grab onto her!

My eyes open- Shit. Shit. Shit!

This isn’t Rose at all!

The panic in my eyes stares to meet the ones filled with terror. I just leapt at a complete stranger. Why is Neeameth here? Where is Rose, I- I heard Rose!

She screams. Neeameth screams with all she has, hand going to her still holstered gun. I catch sight of another individual. It’s not any of the other two either. It’s a guard.

Both reach for their guns, all the noise growing.

“OSIBINDAH!” the guard roars and I throw Neeameth out of the room and to the wall. Turning as the first shots rip into the room. I smash out onto the balcony, leaping.