Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[chifeng_zun]

[His brow furrows when he notes the way Huaisang stumbles, gentling his pulling just a bit, but not ceasing. He is too aware of the crowd pressing in around them. They don't go far, ultimately, just stepping to the side of the street where foot traffic is lesser. Better that Nie Mingjue doesn't have to shove anyone away from his overwhelmed brother, because he would.

You were always too hard on him, see, something in him whispers, and yet. Something else whispers in return that Nie Huaisang ultimately won a game that Nie Mingjue didn't even know was being played until his own piece was knocked off the board.

The air rushes out of him as he stares down at his brother's face, tracking the changes in his expression as if he can track the thoughts in his head. Stunned disbelief, he expected that. And then he crumples like paper, the tears welling up, and all the times he's cried before flash through Nie Mingjue's mind. He used to comfort him, when he could, before his temper grew out of his control. Right now, in this moment, Nie Mingjue feels hollowed out in the best way, his anger gone, filling up instead with a joy he doesn't feel he deserves. He knows that Aefenglom is his last chance at any kind of life, and he is not so broken that he would throw it away entirely, but this- this is the thing that really feels like a second chance, knowing he'll be able to make amends for his mistakes to the one person who truly matters.

Huaisang throws his arms around his neck, wrinkling his robes in his hands, and Mingjue lets him cling, curling an arm strong and fierce around his back, a protective brace.] Didi. [He rasps out, quieter now, like a secret between them. It isn't an endearment he uses very often, not naturally prone to them, but this is- a special occasion. The most special.] I'm here. [You're alright. I'll protect you.]

Ridiculous boy. I'm sorry I left.

arrival

[sparkstrikes]

[Not her bathroom, but a bathroom, nonetheless. More specifically, the women's restroom inside a local tavern where Lightning has sought refuge to clean up after waking up sputtering dirty water from a puddle on the side of the road. It was the only place that was open late enough and would let her in, but the locals and Otherworlders alike have been nothing but helpful in that regard.

She's in the middle of washing her face when she hears the hairline cracks spread across the mirror, and she only has a second to back away before something comes barreling through it, shattering the glass to pieces. An arm comes up to shield herself while her other hand immediately goes for the gunblade tucked away behind her, and she draws it with barrel out, pointed straight at whoever – or whatever – it is that's just infringed on her personal space.

Her mouth opens with silent surprise but when he growls at her with narrowed eyes, she returns the sentiment, though perhaps not as intimidating with tap water still dripping down the sides of her face.]

I should be asking you.

SAVE HER...

[eyeforaneye]

[ A guide... well, he's the one that offered; it's too late now to say he'd rather give her money and have her leave him in depressed solitude. Besides, she may genuinely need his help. He exhales, measured. ]

Fine, then we have a deal.

Hold out your hand.

[yesdoubt]

[The young petalwolves lean back a bit at the attentions of an older wolf, seemingly unsure what to do, but the one with peach petals is the one to break the stalemate, making a pawing motion at the air as if she wants to play. The other one is a bit more aloof, just sniffing at Amaterasu like he's trying to puzzle her out.

Momo, who's assuming the huff was a "yes" and not just a poorly-timed dog sigh since she's looking at his face now, grins cheerfully at the apparent triangle of woof-ly interest.]

Okay, well, you won't be able to get back through the mirror, but if you come with me, I can take you to someone who can explain what's going on properly. But I can tell you this is a city in a different world to the one you came from. It's called Aefenglom.

[He's just going to wing it with this talking to the wolf business and see how it goes.]

[eyeforaneye]

...

[ The barest of smirks dents that placid expression of his, showcasing at least some level of emotion even if it isn't the kind that Deidara wants. He's had numerous difficult fights over the years, brutal encounters that had worn him down to a mere husk of a human being, but the pain he'd felt at Deidara's hands does still stand out. It might fulfill him if he says so.

Sasuke chooses the more sadistic route and purposefully doesn't, indulging in that side of himself for once. Sure, he's reformed, but this man isn't a good person who deserves many kindnesses from him. ]

Exactly. Trying to bludgeon me to death with your fists wouldn't have the same artistic impact. Either way, if you find a way to manage it and it's another suicidal venture you should consider the value of your own life a little more seriously first.

Otherwise you're repeating your mistake.

[turmoiling]

[Oh yes, so scared that just a few moments ago you were casually browsing and chatting. But nobody except Jin Guangyao was paying that kind of attention, tracking one random man in the crowd. If Jin Guangyao had it in him to realize, he'd see the hypocrisy of feeling like he could just spit in the face of that false look of trust being shown him, the belief that's being asked of him right now.

When did Huaisang realize what how Mingjue died, how long had it taken him? He still doesn't have the answer to that question, but it doesn't matter at all because no matter what when he's from, Jin Guangyao should have made sure he died right after his brother, to suppress any chance of familial revenge. A plot that he hadn't even thought was possible, back then. If he wasn't burning with so much hatred, he could almost be impressed.]

Of course. There are some things that are different, yes. [And with the way Huaisang's clinging on, he's not making it easy to hide the flicker of his disgusting forked tongue with that fan in his hand, either. He looks back at him with the calmest, sweetest fondness on his face though, echoes of days long years ago when he'd brought fans and trinkets for Huaisang.] But I can assure you, you're safe here. Forces beyond all of our control are what spirited you away, not anything malicious.

1/3

[eyeforaneye]

[ For the second that their eyes meet, Sasuke's mind quiets itself.

No concerns over expectations, no trying to guess at how Naruto might react because they understand one another in an innate way he's never shared with another human being. It brings with it a strange peace, one he hasn't known since he last heard from him back home.

And then he gets punched in the face. ]

2/3

[eyeforaneye]

[ ....... ]

3/3

[eyeforaneye]

[ Slowly his chin lowers, head snapped back by the hit but otherwise he hasn't moved a muscle. Not yet. ]

... what a weak punch. [ Having no chakra is a bitch, isn't it. ]

[cryptsleeper]

[There is a joke to be made in this man's surname somewhere, but Alucard isn't the sort of person who would pursue it. Instead he simply stares at the man, more than a little dumbfounded by just about everything about him.

Especially the talking about a person within earshot thing.]

You're not special in traveling to this place through mirrors.

always because huaisang is the favorite

[zewu_jun]

[ He should still be in seclusion. Some days he actually recalls that and wants nothing more than to hide away with his shame and failures, turning over what went wrong to try to find some sense in any of it. But Aefenglom has deemed that Lan Xichen should not have that fate, so he tries to embrace the world and face his own shortcomings and sins, which means venturing out even if it means facing the past.

If he is a little too kind for what transpired in the temple of Guanyin, Lan Xichen cannot truly hold any resentment against his brothers, including Huaisang. Even as one part of him tries to acknowledge how he was used, another part argues its justification and how all three of the so-called heroes failed Huaisang each in some way, making the sin partly his own. In the end he only spins in circles with confusion and guilt, as torn about Nie Huaisang as he was with Jin Guangyao who had been kind and generous to him for years. Holding a grudge is too difficult, and Lan Xichen just looks relieved to see the young man unharmed before him, bowing politely only to raise his head and check Huaisang over for any injuries. ]

A pond? Are you still wet? You shouldn't wander around too much. You could get lost in some back street like this.

[ Or run into Jin Guangyao, and he really isn't sure how that would go. Didn't Jin Guangyao promise to put the past behind him? He wants to believe in that promise, but all the same, he can't completely settle. ]

You aren't alone. Wangji and Wei Wuxian are here. And... my sworn brothers as well.

[ If Huaisang was wondering just how much Lan Xichen knew, the soft hesitation in his words gives that away. He knows the weight behind what he's saying and yet can't completely believe that hostility will come from it--or rather, he still hopes that they can live beyond the battles they have locked into. ]

[cryptsleeper]

[What the fuck.

Hector is here already. That much Alucard knows and has enjoyed approximately 1% of, and that 1% is the Cezar. The presence of this other man, no name, no identity, only the knowledge that he was within Dracula's employ? It concerns Alucard more than he well and truly cares to admit.

He sees the direction that Isaac redirects his course to. Alucard was headed that way in the first place, he has to in order to get home. So he continues. Face grim. Not anticipating what comes next, only aware that it will be a very, very bad time.

No part of him calls out to the man. He only continues on, until the crowd thins. Only then:]

We're bound to cross paths in this city. We may as well get it over with.

[catterbrain]

[Oblivious to how close she came to becoming bereft of her own hair, Nashu nods along to the not-so-subtly barbed words aimed at the potion seller. All of this is great advice for an aspiring entrepreneur, she must agree. And while it's not unusual for a detail or two or three to escape her notice—details such as the perspiration beading across the conman's newly naked brow—her smile gets bigger and bigger as she looks him over.

The audience of market-goers forming at her heels need not wait overly long, for her input comes readily: ]

Cor! I've never seen someone serpent-ify themselves before!

[And of course she bids for the most drastic of the lot.]

cat pack

[trost]

[ It's really not everyday he gets solicited so openly for what he assumes is gang activity. ]

What? I'm not so bored I'm going to join a gang for no reason.

arrival

[weiward]

[he wasn't necessarily trying to be helpful. this time it's a little bit like wei wuxian and trouble, sometimes it just happens no matter what his actual intentions were. yes, he got the message about the strange new arrivals, but they'll be fine. probably. and there are plenty of goody-goody witches (coughlanscough) out there helping them in his place.

that doesn't mean he can actually ignore someone calling for help. wei wuxian peeks an eye open from where he's resting underneath a tree, arms behind his head. he can save someone from drowning or he can continue his nap. drowning...nap.

of course he's going to save them. wei wuxian gets to his feet, splashing into the water and then swimming over to him. he sinks his claws into the fabric of the man's robes, and pulls him up until his chin is above the water.]

You're fine! [he draws his head back, narrowly avoiding a flailing fist.] Calm down! The bottom is just under your feet!

[which explains why he didn't race over and dive right in. the puca peeks one eye open, and then the other, blinking once he gets a good look at his face.]

Nie-xiong?

[byherself]

[ Might be! Sort of. But if he was going to cause problems, then... magic! Right! She knows magic now! Think think think, Ryoko...! ]

Three, two...

[ And she leaps forward a bit to turn around and hold out her and and... spray water from her hand, which does nothing but stop her long enough for a collision. ]

[bright_moon]

By the robes and the forehead ribbon, Xingchen can at least recognize the sect the other man is from, and it's more than enough to trust the words spoken. He turns a mild scolding look of his own on the goblin but remains polite as he bows his head to the creature.

"Thank you for your time, but I think I will go elsewhere. Should you decide to make your potions more effective, I would be glad to meet with you again."

Xingchen turns to Xichen and bows in answer, frown smoothing to a gentle little smile. "Thank you. Your help is much appreciated." He's too naive to know better, but he's trying to learn. It's just difficult.

[bright_moon]

Xiao Xingchen doesn't pay much attention to the politics of the cultivation world, that's always been more something Song Lan watches. He focuses more on where people need help fighting monsters and such. Helping in general where needed.

He also...isn't that good at reading between the lines. But he knows this, and is trying to do better. The world isn't quite what he'd thought it was when he'd first left his master's side. So he takes his nephew's seeming understanding at face-value and sets to making sure Bichen is happy and getting all the attention the little winged bunny's heart can want.

"You have now," he answers serenely. And then the request comes, and his gaze lowers shyly. "I would be honored to, nephew." Of course he would! "I know very little of what is involved. Stories, and they may not be accurate - I have read many conflicting tales."

[thinhammer]

[ There's a bit of a ringing silence following the motion; the feeling of walking through deep water as the people surrounding them quiet at the outburst. To anyone looking on it seems like Naruto just smacked him out of reflex, and funnily enough it's not far from the truth.

In the aftermath, though, with Sasuke having barely moved and definitely not punching him back, Naruto experiences the distinct feeling of the air vacuuming around him. Only in that moment does he realise how tall Sasuke is - he probably would have got him right in the nose if he'd been as tall as Naruto recalls him being - how different he looks, the eyes, the face, the hair... how much his fucking hand hurts? ]

Oww.. [ Cradling his offending digits, Naruto looks at Sasuke's face - really looks, this time, not just blindly half-seeing it and assuming he's some kind of figment. You can't punch a figment, he knows that much. Sasuke's eyes (eye?? eye) are dark as ever, but even someone as attention-challenged as Naruto can see something is missing. Every time Sasuke has looked at him in the past it's been like he's trying to bore holes into him with a glare, while at the same time somehow managing to keep his expression cold, vacant, devoid. Sasuke's looks feel like fire and ice that each burn and scar, but when Naruto looks into the gaze of this Sasuke.. he hardly sees anything of the guy who not too long ago told him that their next meeting would end in them both killing the other. ] Shit. I..

[ His mouth stays open for a bit, then he kind of puffs out his cheeks; a silent way of describing exactly how lost for words he is. He's been thinking, for months at this point, what he'd say to Sasuke if he could just talk to him, without fists or jounin or angry kage putting a price on Sasuke's back... And now he kind of feels like the asshole for flying off the handle, but.. can you blame him?? Really?? ]

... What happened to you? Ya don't look.. right.

[ Trust this kid to punch his pal in the face and then ask if he's okay. ]

food stalls

[blankpieces]

So don't eat the ones with meat in them.

[The small young man at Legoshi's side doesn't even look at him as he reaches out to take the meat-filled items being offered to him. He's been here long enough that the presence of a large (and apparently vegetarian) wolf-man doesn't throw him off.

It helps that he's also covered in monochrome scales from head to toe, aside from his white shock of hair. He still has his legs, but it's only a matter of time.

Only after he's retrieved his own treats does he spare the larger beast so much as a glance. A black forked tongue darts out of his mouth occasionally as he tastes the air. It's become more habit now than anything.]

You might want to try the fried cheese curds - unless you're vegan too.

goblin market/wildcard; let's go on a fetch quest

[sparkstrikes]

[The shortest route for Lightning to get from Point A to Point B just so happens to be through her least favourite place in the city – the Goblin Market. It's thanks to some bad experiences in the past that she tends to avoid it like the plague, so she makes her pass through it quick, ignoring any calls to buy the fishy wares off of the even fishier merchants.

But it's as she's exiting the square that she hears the small sound of a cough behind her. She'd hardly noticed the girl, too focused on leaving to care much about anything else, but when Lightning pauses to allow her gaze to follow Yonah's, they land on the stalls.

Ah...]

You don't want anything from here. Trust me.

[ranyaulf]

( what does ranulf hear, but heavy footsteps behind him? a noise that has his fur stand up on end, his ears and tail still as he tries to feel the air; it's his gut feeling, his sense of danger that causes him to try to feel what or who may have approached. there's a familiar presence accompanied by the scent of something easily recognized... the combination of which makes him wonder if he should prepare for the worst.

he may not have enough time to do so, though, and he takes one long breath. his shoulders rise and fall, a sense of a numbing calm draped across his back like a second pelt. he could feel his nerves uncoiling as a familiar building of energy prepares him for a shift if necessary, to defend himself. he wouldn't start a fight he couldn't end.

so who he believes he sees as he turns is the main reason why his internal planning goes to sudden and utter chaos. it's not who he expects, as both eyes widen. it's a dragon, of course. he would've easily mistaken the winged being as someone from goldoa. ranulf is now very happy that his claws remain inside; no way he could take on a black dragon by himself. he'd be one roasted cat.

...

but it's also...

he looks different. not just a laguz, but something more? not something less. more imposing, more feral, halfway to some other kind of creature that isn't laguz at all. his tail twitches in irritation, eyes flickering from the fangs to the wings to the scales, to the...

...

it has soren's voice. his breath is stolen from him, he's been winded without being struck, and then he plunges into the water as the ice shatters beneath him, his concentration broken. with an audible gasp of air, ranulf claws his way back to the thin sliver of shore and immediately rolls onto his back. )

Second time... I'm starting to really hate water.

( he stares up, looking at soren upside-down. )

Yeah. It's me. And you're you... right?

[kindlymeant]

It is a pleasure to meet you, [ she curtsies as she says it. Sae's bow may once have been a source of curiosity to her, rare a gesture as it is from a girl, but compared to everything else it is a small thing indeed. ] I am Alayne Stone.

[ She falls in beside her, expression sympathetic. She's been here for longer, but not by much, and certainly not long enough to be settled in any real way. It's still hard not to feel long amongst it all. ]

I have not been here very long myself. It is a lot to get used to, isn't it?

[northernmist]

[Ao Lengshan might not be a great dragon god at the moment, able to wipe out entire fishing fleets with one swipe of his tail, but he can totally knock over a table and probably give the poor witch a bad day with this human form. And even if it gets him arrested, he doesn't really seem that worried about the consequences of starting a fight here on the streets.

But he's not as stupid as he appears at first glance. Maybe not quite as smart as other dragons, but he does know that the payout for a fight might not yield as much reward as he wants. So if he can get away with intimidation, he'll do that. And the very obvious sweet treat does pull his attention away. A large crepe being openly offered is way better than trying to browbeat an empty-handed Witch. This is very simple math. The scowling Lengshan straightens up and looks curiously at the man with his coveted prize, thankfully losing interest in his other target.]

Are you offering that to me?

[He almost thinks that it's going to be a joke or a trick, but the big smile seems to provide honorable intentions. It's enough to require some level of courtesy from him if only because business calls for formality.]

[kindlymeant]

[ It is not surprising that the salesman decided not to test his luck hawking to them, now. She's impressed, all the same. Would that she could command the same forbidding air, she thinks - though at least, for now, she does not have to. ]

To be expected anywhere, I suppose. [ Her attention shifts to the myriad stalls around them, stacked with everything from potions to woven charms and jars of gods know what. When she glances back to the man beside her, there's a wan sort of humour there. ]

I did not have to consider that some might actually be capable of doing something, before coming here.