EQ_Theta

@Blitz Boom “You are persistent on this, and I do not have issues with your interest on the topic or Sen’s goal of wanting things better for the longma back home. I left my home and my kind because back then, I didn’t believe they were worth helping. I lost my friend, and Sen and Lin lost their parents, because they couldn’t see past their isolationist tendencies. The longma back home may claim to be looking for themselves and their welfare, but if they can’t save their own kind from themselves, then I can’t support them.” “Let me be clear: I have no desire to go back when I have to look after what’s already here. Call me selfish, but the longma should experience the consequences of their actions if they are to improve, even if they have to ruin themselves to do it. If you and Sen, or anyone you meet, agrees with your goal of changing the longma’s way of thinking and helping them move forward, then I hope you succeed. Maybe one day, I will rethink my stance on this, but I don’t have faith that they will see things the way you do.” Uddo wasn’t angry with Rosa for pressing the matter, but having already made up his mind on it, he didn’t see the point in wanting to go back when it was apparent that he couldn’t do anything more. His friend was gone, and there was no bringing him back. Having someone who was willing to stand by Sen’s goal was something he liked, and it made his nephew and the thestral more admirable. In a way, he could see his old friend’s persistence and positive outlook in the two, and he would use this time to give them his blessing silently, a sign of his approval and his wish for their success. As for Lin, she stood to the side and wondered about this exchange. Lin was especially distraught, having to reevaluate everything she initially thought to be the truth she stood by in her exile. Having bottled up all her anger and venting them to her brother wasn’t a healthy thing to do, but hearing what Rosa had to say, maybe he and Sen had the right idea. It would be worse seeing history repeat to more young longma who don’t deserve what the siblings went through, and there was merit to wanting to do something to save others from that kind of misfortune. “You are very interesting, Rosa. Not many can say they know a lot and back that up with proof. If I mentioned you to the other ponies I went to school with, no one would believe me. Don’t worry though, I won’t actually do that. You’re still new in town, and your privacy is important. It might be better if you got to know the town a little bit better instead of everyone coming to you.” Going off with how described his thoughts, Kiba liked having someone to talk to about this kind of stuff. Between running the store and studying, he didn’t seem to find a lot of things interesting in town. The quaint and quiet atmosphere is nice, but something about it felt rather lacking. The young longma could only imagine the interesting stories Rosa, Omen, Sen, and Lin had of their travels. It could get him to also do a bit of exploring beyond Old Canterlot. As for Uddo, he was happy with Rosa's immediate response, and he is looking forward to the next time they could meet, preferably in less crestfallen moments. Sen and Lin followed their friend, but a sense of dread loomed over them as they walked. The trip was silent, more so than normal for them, but if it was really happening, then perhaps it was meant to be. An unassuming building with a shadowy path inward… maybe a little too on-the-nose with the whole secrecy thing, but they wouldn’t question it. Once there, some words should be said, but Sen wasn’t one to mince how he was truly feeling at that moment. “Rosa… I-I… I know we’ll see each other again, but I find it difficult to say goodbye, especially to a good friend. P-Please be careful, as well. I’d hate it if something were to happen to you b-because I wouldn’t be there to help.” “We are looking forward to when we’ll meet again, but let us give you one more thing before we part. Omen, can you huddle up with us for a bit?” Both siblings thought this would be sappy, and it was already embarrassing that they were doing this in front of Rosa’s employers, but knowing the circumstances, they figured it best to tough it out. Before parting, they’d go up to their friend and hug him tightly; it was apparent that Sen wasn’t taking this well, doing his best to keep himself together but wavering in his words. Bowing was a sign of respect, but this situation felt different and called for something else. It felt like a good time to bring up something appropriate for the moment. Though all walk their own paths, the journey needed not be solitary. May the travelers never tire, ever reaching for their way. And should they ever stumble, may they find comfort in companions who will never lead them astray. “It’s a longma blessing for those who have big undertakings, and I feel like we’re heading off on our own paths now. It’s going to be different not seeing you everyday. We’ll keep in touch, but we will surely miss you until we meet again.”

@Blitz Boom “Well… I wouldn’t know about a sphinx’s visit, but I usually try to keep myself out of others’ businesses. Besides, what happened between the longma and myself is something I want to put behind me, and as much as I gained knowledge and experience from my time with them, I would prefer to focus on what I have here. Let their troubles be theirs to fix because, to me, they made it clear that living with old grudges is the way they want to move forward. If anyone found them worth helping, then I won’t stand in their way, and what becomes of the longma’s future will be up to them.” Lin felt that her stance was somewhat affirmed from her uncle’s words; the same could not be said about Sen, who looked rather downcast at what he heard. It wasn’t without precedence, and he could understand where this sentiment came from, but it didn’t sound right that the longma back home were beyond hope. Maybe there was a way to prove Uddo wrong, but Sen would need to have the time to see this kind of change through. Even then, Rosa mentioned things like this would need time to move past bad histories, something that may only happen beyond his years. As for Kiba, he silently watched his father and friends speak of the topic, but he felt that he might be missing out on something that only this odd group could give him. Outside of his obligations to the family business, there didn’t seem to be anything giving him reason to see more. As much as he can consider himself blessed to have a means of living right now, he still felt rather constrained by his lot. It might not change his goals in life, but he would at least like to see more than just Old Canterlot. For now, he’d be quiet and gather his thoughts on the discussion, and when the opportunity arises, he’d learn more. “I’m with Ms. Omen here. Those are some strange things to know about, but you make it sound so simple when you’re just pulling that information. Was that all form the top of your head? Because that’s impressive.” “Draconian Hazba… I’ll keep that in mind. Hey, I know this may sound sudden, but if I find myself in trouble or curious about other matters, would it be alright if I came to you for advice? I admit I am unfamiliar with the legal aspects of Equestrian law, and it took me longer than I had hoped to even get my bearings in more civilized society. There’s no need to answer immediately, and seeing as we are pretty much living in the same town, communication wouldn’t be an issue. I wish you all the best, and I feel free to stop by anytime you need something.” The older longma would soon return to his work unless the others had more questions, though he’d was still technically on the job and would prefer to get some more work done. He’d bow to Rosa and the others, and they returned the gesture, ready to part ways for now. As much as Lin wanted to stick around, she would also like to get the tools back home to keep her end of the trades she initiated with some of the craftworkers. Even if she didn’t have a high opinion of the longma, there was a soft spot she had for a few folks, though she’d be quick to admit that this was only for upholding agreements. Never let it be said that she didn’t honor them once deals were made. “I know we have our own errands, but would be all right if we walked with you to where you need to go, Rosa? I am curious about that, unless it’s not for us, and we understand if it is. Bringing these tools back home can wait, and we aren’t in a rush to go home. So, where are we heading?”

@Blitz Boom “When you put it that way, the latter explanation make some sense… I don’t know if you were told this but the longma are wary of outsiders because of a history of slavery, or something like it anyway. The details aren’t clear as to who did the enslaving, but supposedly, my ancestors were asked to help build some kind of kingdom until they were tricked into becoming the source of the labor. They had no place within that kingdom’s future once they’ve made their ‘contributions.’” “Was there more to the story? This is what’s usually repeated around the village fires when stories of our history are told to the young to teach them about why we isolate ourselves from the rest of the world.” “Sadly, that’s the extent of it. A lot of the details go missing when the story is passed by word of mouth, unlike how events are recorded here in Equestria. It’s a long shot, but you could try the town library. They’ve got lots of history books there.” Kiba was rather intrigued by this story, and it seems like Lin was capable of holding a conversation about the longma that didn’t devolve into derisive comments. The younger longma never heard of this story before, nor did he know much about what others of his kind were like. If there was more time, he might speak with his father or his new friends about what he missed out, though he might have to be careful with the topic. It still sounded like a sore spot for most of those who are knowledgeable about it. As for the older longma, Uddo was rather proud of his handiwork if Shrimp was playing with his new toy again. He seemed to have taken a liking to simple pleasures like this, and it gave some ideas for the kinds of things he’d like to have ready in case the present group were to come back. He once heard that uncles and aunts in Equestria have this knack for preparing little gifts for their younger relatives, but he wasn’t sure what that meant or why it was a thing. Maybe now he might understand a little more about the practice. "I guess it’s a matter of getting used to the odd things, but you seem to be handling it, so maybe we can do it too." “All the more reason why I asked you to look after each other. You’ve probably gone through a lot before meeting me, but there are plenty of folks out there who’d take advantage of a lack of knowledge and experience. Take this as a lesson, Sen and Lin; be attentive and perceptive. If you feel you are walking into danger, find a way out of that situation and head to safety.” “Of course, and we’ll make sure to keep that in mind for our friends.” “Good. Now back to that other thing we’re talking about… I personally don’t use them, so I wouldn’t know, but you do know something I didn’t expect. Maybe I’ll ask you about that substance in case I start getting requests from dragons. Anyway, it looks like we sorted out what you need from me here. Anything else you all need me to look over because I should really get back to work on this order.” Uddo was still rather busy despite having taken some time off from his work to handle a different kind of task. He wouldn’t say it outright, but having everyone here and chatting them all up made for a nice distraction. His current order’s client was rather specific with wanting the furniture set ready as soon as possible. However, Kiba would still be able to accommodate them for the time being. The day was rather slow at the workshop, and without too many customers present at the moment, the younger longma could afford to step outside for a bit.

@Blitz Boom “That’s a rather refreshing perspective. I admit, I don’t see things the way you do about the longma, but I guess that stems from my pent-up grievances with them. As for where we came from, we honestly don’t know enough. We all like to believe we just came to be at some point in time, but now I am wondering if that is simply the case or if there is an explanation as to why the longma share appearances with ponies and dragons.” “It’s worth looking into, but this may be one of those times where we might not like the answers to that kind of question.” “Still, if it can give everyone a better understanding of themselves, then it could be worth it.” Elder Ghilan may have broached this topic before, but hearing someone other than him share the same sentiment likely indicated some possible pursuit. Sen was content to remain focused on his, knowing that the longma are worth helping despite his past experience. Unlike him, Uddo and Lin were on the same boat, but the latter started considering that she has no goals or aspirations of her own, only following her brother out of obligation. After all, if she didn’t strive for some lofty goal, perhaps her own path lay within someone else’s. Now, this was something for her to consider, a path that was solely her own but one that could come into conflict with possibilities outside of the longma. Time would tell if her prospects would lead her away from her own kind, yet she was somewhat convinced that it may be true. Her disdain for the longma made her wish she could find a life elsewhere. Uncertainty held her where she is, and the uncertainty of whether it was her emotions making her lean toward that choice made her question if it was right… “Looks like I’ll need to take it apart to make sure everything unsafe is cleared out. And regarding what you said, Ms. Omen, I think cooking oil might be a better alternative to lubricating oil. It’s also edible, even if it isn’t healthy.” The older longma got to work removing the bottom of the bell tower toy per Rosa’s suggestion. It was a fairly simple process of prying the base off and pouring out the insides. There was a not-so-significant amount of metal and plastic bits accumulated from neglect, and the it left him wondering just how much of these kinds of shavings and debris were thrown away at the scrap yard. Still, it wasn’t in poor condition, and working on it was a nice change of pace from the furniture he was focusing on just earlier. Having Shrimp sit and oversee the whole process was also an unexpected but welcomed bonus. The cleanup didn’t take long, and to ensure no more dirt or debris would end up inside, the longma took a clear plastic film and covered the window of the bell tower, along with adding some sticks on the interior to avoid creating a choking hazard. Now there’d be little chance for large teeth to cut through. Once done, the base would be returned, and the bell would be back on its original position. There’d be a bit of lubricant on the upper hinge and internals to make them move smoothly, so all that's left is a quick overall inspection for safety. It was the part where Omen was picking some of the metal bits and eating them that got Uddo and Kiba to pause for a moment. Wanting something spicy was understandable, but this one was rather absurd. “So, I take it you don’t really worry about what you eat, Ms. Omen? Or rather, should no one be worrying about that? I mean, I hear diamonds are used to build some cutting tools, and they could cut through paved roads.” “It’s odd, but Omen is… unique. Her body could handle it, so I don’t think we should worry, though that won’t stop us from worrying about her. I suppose we’re still finding balance between when to worry and when to not.” “O…kay? You probably already know this, Ms. Omen, but I don’t recommend eating diamonds because I’m fairly certain your teeth could break.”

@Blitz Boom “Fascinating origins, huh? I don’t know if I can say that about the longma as a whole. Don’t take that as an offense, Sen and Lin. I didn’t mean to lump you two there.” “No problem. It’s not exactly a flattering thing to think about.” Perhaps there wasn’t anything to worry about. Rosa sounded sincere, and everyone was in agreement on the matter. Thee trust that was present in the group was evident, so there’d be no more second-guessing from the older longma, and neither would there be a disservice to them by treating them any less than mature adults. He was reminded of a saying about finding commonalities among those who didn’t fit in with others and finding belonging with themselves instead. Maybe this was an example of that, with his own niece and nephew finding their way around with decent folk. At least, that’s what he hopes. By then, things were getting a little weird and unexpected with Omen licking the oil and Shrimp getting his little head stuck in the miniature bell tower. All of the longma present would quickly jump in to assist Rosa and the little refraction, though it was apparent the thestral had the situation under control. There was a little screwdriver nearby that he could use to pry the creature’s head free. Once that ordeal was done, the older longma examined the toy with a brass pince-nez used like a magnifying glass. By the time he was done with his examination, there mix of horror and relief on his face, but not one that suggested the problem was too serious. “Oh dear. Looks like this one’s going to need more than just sticks and some repairs. The inside of the tower appears to have some jagged pieces of plastic and other bits of metallic shrapnel. None of that would be safe for consumption, especially considering where you found it.” “Good thing we avoided that, but how long would you need to have that cleared out?” “Hopefully not too long. I’m just concerned about how much of this stuff is in there and if I could get all of it out. You probably might have to come back later if you are busy with other matters. Oh, and uh… Ms. Omen? Could you refrain from, well… licking the oil?” Uddo didn’t look optimistic about the odds of him finishing the repairs to the miniature clock tower toy, but that was more on how fast he could get the other unwanted things out of it. After all, it was in his best interest to have it be safe for play, but he could try using some tweezers to start. He didn’t exactly have all of the tools that could make this work easy, but he did mention wanting to start a repair service on the side. This could be a start to that. As such, he pulled out a smaller tool box from the rear of the shop and got to work. As much as he wanted to have Kiba handle this, the delicate nature of the work meant there’d be a greater need for care to avoid breaking something important. If time permits, he could get this done and make some more progress on the table he’s working on.

@Blitz Boom “You and Omen make for some strange friends for Sen and Lin, but you all talk about each other like you’ve been through some tough situations. I won’t ask for specifics, but because you’ve all convinced me that what happened isn’t really what I thought it was, then all I ask is for you to stay safe and look out for each other.” “We’ll be careful, uncle. Seeing something like what Rosa described was already enough for us to be worried.” “I hope so because it’s already bad enough that an accident could do so much damage. Oh, and if you all need help, come to me. I may not know exactly what’s going on, but I’ll do what I can to help. Just make sure you aren’t running with the wrong crowd.” The older longma wasn’t exactly happy with having more on his mind, but between his niece and nephew and their friends, it was apparent that he was beginning to treat this group as an extension of his family. Perhaps he was just getting worked up over hypotheticals, but everyone convincing him about them being careful was enough to put his mind at ease. They’re grown adults, and he wouldn’t belittle them by treating them otherwise. Perhaps one day, when things aren’t quite hectic or busy, they may just sit down and hang out. Uddo was certain that they’d have plenty of interesting stories to swap, maybe together with the rest of his family. Speaking of which… “Maybe you’re right, but knowing how uncertain the meeting might go or who ends up meeting who first, I figured going with whoever is available. However, it’ll be better if all of you are together when you meet. We’ll see how it goes.” “You know, Mr. Rosa, some see having an eye for the future to be a good thing. Being certain or prepared for what comes next and planning accordingly is something others envy.” “He speaks true, though you need not look down on yourself. I wouldn’t know where painting will take me or how it’ll help the business, but I’m certain it’s worth trying. Now for my current task, I have this furniture set for a client in the new town. A pair of nightstands and a living room table, all with floral patterns. It’s not common for clients to order such things, but it happens every now and again. You probably might want some for your home as well, so I've got a catalog over here if you'd like to look.” Uddo walked over to the shop and came back with a book for Rosa to see. It had the usual pictures of furniture pieces, as expected for homes, but a section further near the end had the sets the older longma mentioned, including the intricate floral patterns for cabinets, nightstands, and coffee tables. Meanwhile, Kiba was steadily going at his pace, already making progress on all of the tools Lin brought, as well as the rod Sen wanted. Something about this caught his attention, as it didn’t look like he was doing something related to home decorating with it. Compared to the tools Lin had, this one seemed to be more personal, but he wouldn’t be one to judge based on looks. However, bringing it up right now after what his father talked about earlier was a recipe that would raise some red flags. For the moment, the young longma grabbed some small unused boxes from the back corner of the workshop and packed Lin’s tools into three of them, corresponding to the three sets she had. Not exactly something that would qualify as brand new, but they looked clean and well oiled as if they were newly bought from a store. The siblings were impressed with everything looking shiny, and they gladly accepted the tools, especially for Lin, who figured the folks back home will also like the gifts. “Here you go, Sen and Lin, three new sets of tools and your rod all washed and oiled. How about you, Ms. Omen? Need anything checked? Maybe that bell tower your little friend’s playing with could use a look just to make sure it’s safe.”

@Blitz Boom “That is a rather unexpected turn of events, and while I am glad you were able to find the medical help you need, I am rather concerned about the events leading up to the incident involving the statue you just mentioned. If my niece and nephew were helping you with something dangerous, then for their sakes, as well as yours, you leave them out of it.” “Uncle, please. It’s nothing like that, more like something we didn’t anticipate. We’re being careful to avoid anything like that from happening again.” *sigh* “However it happened or whatever it was you were doing, I’m asking you all to be careful. I won’t deny that I got caught imagining things that may be different from how they happened, but my request remains the same. Don’t go off to some dangerous place or getting involved with the wrong folks, got it?” The siblings nodded silently, understanding that were some things they wanted to keep hushed from their uncle. The thing that got them rather surprised and concerned about was the slight threat in Uddo’s voice. Even if he meant well, something about his response had a hint of a threat directed at Rosa. It didn’t help that he raised his voice, seemingly attempting to downplay his anger, though it was clear that was anger born of worry rather than directed fury. As for Uddo, he gave himself a moment to calm down and gather his thoughts. If this group went through that ordeal, then what else could they have gotten into before they met? Kiba paused his work when he caught on to his father’s shift in tone. It wasn’t something he saw or expected before, but he’d rather not provoke that kind of ire now. He’d continue putting in another coating of oil on the tools to keep himself busy, and he was almost done with the tools anyway. He’ll get on with Sen’s telescoping rod after, which shouldn’t take too long before all of the work needed for their guests will be completed. “So, back to more pleasant topics. Are you interested in seeing a musical performance, Sen and Lin?” “Yes. We’ve never heard of that kind of music before, so we’ll take you up on that.” “All right. I’ve still got some work, so I’ll ask Kiba to show you where to find the music club when he’s done. As for your questions, Rosa, I’m starting with small canvas paintings and seeing where that’ll go. Decorative patterns sounds good, so I might try going that route when I get the hang of painting, and it may become a part of the things you’ll see on custom furniture. Now regarding my partner, I’m afraid you missed her by two days. She’s out of town attending a convention and won’t be back for another week. I do appreciate your impression of her, and if time permits, I could introduce you when she gets back.” Uddo’s partner wasn’t always savvy with the business, but just like him, she had to learn quickly if they were going to survive. Back then, his brusque tone and personality of his younger days had a tendency to crop up, making negotiations rather unsavory. A lot of opportunities were wasted when deals fell apart, but he had his partner around to help talk things through. Eventually, Uddo’s more mellow approach stuck and became what everyone sees today, a great deal more personable. He had a good feeling everyone would like her when they’d meet some time.

@Blitz Boom Kiba noticed a specific word within Rosa’s response to their talk about his father. Hearing “Was” had him catch on to something that hinted at him to stop with this conversation. It might cause unwanted duress coming from talking about this matter, and he was willing drop it on the off-chance he’d say something untoward. Best to end on a good note with a tinge of wistful fondness for someone’s good qualities, and pairing that with Sen and Lin’s own family history, this really isn’t a good moment to talk about fathers. Still, it was good to find some encouragement from the thestral about the business and the young longma’s future in it. He didn’t have many, or any, prospects outside of the family business, so it would be best to keep his focus within what he could control or learn to control. Father may not need to know about this, but perhaps he won’t need to if he isn’t going to have to worry about a lot of things. “Oh… I’m sorry to hear that, and I hope you’ll get well soon. I don't think I should ask about details, huh?” “Yes. That may be for the best.” Sen replied, though he tried his best to keep that response as vague as possible. He remembered sitting by his friend’s bedside, doing the same for his sister. The way Lin described her predicament, it was more than just rough. Being badly injured handling some work for Scarcity meant Uddo would be getting worried for them, likely over something he might not understand. It wouldn’t be right getting him or his family involved in matters that were best kept hushed; Lin quietly nodded in response to Sen’s reply, remembering the feeling that let to her temporarily losing her ability to walk. In the meantime, Kiba continued with his own work, having already finished up the power washing step. He’ll first apply some oil over all of the tools he received plus the telescoping rod Sen had on him. He didn’t quite catch on to what the others were saying, but it sounded serious and a bit impressive, though not for the same things. Having met kitsune was supposedly a rare thing, and yet these four talk about it like it’s nothing? They might be more going on with them, or they were probably just lucky. “Oh, you don’t need to give me anything. Business may be a kind of tit-for-tat relationship, but the same isn’t true when it comes to my niece and nephew’s friends. Since you asked, I’m not really much of one who had interests outside of work for the longest time. Had to get things sorted for the business back then, you know? With a lot of pressure on me, I had to dedicate a lot of my attention to the business, even outside of work.” “However, I’ve had this growing interest in music. There’s a music club in town that’s got acts every evening, but I usually go there for the jazz performances. Aside from that, my parter also got me interested in painting, if only because any skills I pick up could be transferable to the business. Maybe it could open new ways to grow and expand. What say you, Rosa? Interested in seeing musical performances one of these days? The offer is also extended to you, Sen, Lin, and Omen.” This was the first time the siblings heard of a music club in town, and they already had a look at the town’s map about twice. Maybe this was one of those town secrets that could only be found by exploring, but an attraction that requires attendees should mean the club wouldn’t need to be hidden. Even then, there didn’t appear to be any buildings in town that could be conducive for regular concerts, unless they had to look somewhere at the unlikely places that could host them. That might just be an incentive to see more of the town and find its secrets, even if this one might just be a big open secret.

@Blitz Boom “You must have had a good father who knew a lot about being observant if he encouraged you like that. Father told me about how I could help with the business while teaching me some of the things I gotta learn. He did mention he was worried about growing the business too big. You probably already noticed this, but between myself, my family, and Shade, we are pretty much the only ones running the store. It’s good that we’ve got room to keep growing, but he’s not sure he wants to grow the business to the point of having many others be a part of it. Wants to keep it strictly within the family aside from a few he could trust. Shade got in on it because he helped father a while back, and even though he got hired because of regulations, we all like to think giving our Umbra friend a home meant he wouldn’t have to worry about things like being aimless. Now he runs security, and he’s a little more at ease. Maybe one day, he’ll be comfortable with using his physical form around others aside from us.” “As for the earlier bit about the store’s future, I don’t have an opinion on that, as I feel like I don’t know enough to make an informed decision. We’ll keep at it for now and see how things go. It’ll stay hushed for a while, but we’ll expand on the prospective service when we know it’ll work.” Shade would occasionally return to the group and watch them, though this was more out of curiosity than a result of suspicions. They were related, and everyone seemed to quickly befriend each other. Perhaps even the umbra could have a similar kind of relationship as that, though as far as they were concerned, only Omen seemed to pay him some mind. However, Rosa greeting him directly was a pleasant surprise, and the umbra would do so with pleased grunts, as he lacked a mouth to properly emote and convey his meaning, relying on tone to get his thoughts across. “Hmm… Maybe I could get a reinforced hang bar installed on your home’s ceiling so you could sleep better. Speaking of sleep, I guess you are aright that there was a lot to think about, and yeah, I spent some time doing that before heading to bed. It was still a rather pleasant kind of thinking since it’s sort of like seeing I could still fulfill my friend’s wish to some extent. He wanted our children to be friends as they were growing up, and it looks like it’s happening now. Come now, let’s take a look at what you got that needs fixing.” Uddo would look toward Kiba and the siblings, as they were moving toward a vacant desk in the workshop. The young longma was getting his equipment ready, while Sen and Lin would pull out the tools she gathered from the scrapyard earlier. It didn’t look like they were going to get started until the older longma would say they would, but he knew they were about to do something involving the workshop’s equipment, and he would need to step in and assist. “Not in bad shape, though the handle’s been eaten away with some of these chisels. Thankfully, these have modular assemblies, so replacing them with sturdier grips should be easy. A quick power wash rinse should also get rid of some of the gunk on the metal before we apply some protective oil to keep them from rusting. Kiba, you could handle this, right?” The young longma nodded and got to work, grabbing three padded grips and the power washer hose to start with the replacement process. He’d go at it a little slowly to get the essential bits out in one piece before doing a thorough cleaning. It wasn’t exactly what the siblings wanted with the suggestions for oiling their finds, but it was good that it was still part of what they’re getting. At this rate, they’d be receiving tools about as good as new. The internal sections would require the most work, but making them last was what mattered most, and the siblings will be getting it. Admittedly, it was odd that Sen and Lin were even carrying them around despite not having any inclinations toward woodworking, though the extra telescoping rod was something that felt out of place. It’ll be a while before the tools were ready, so there was some time to chat, and Uddo would return to his own work, hammering away at another table leg to get it into place before he could start the more intricate detailing on it. As for Kiba, he’d first get the chisels sorted out before proceeding to the hammers. The gouges looked good enough that those could just use a quick wash and some oiling. “So, I don’t suppose you are all interested in woodworking? What’s with the tools?” “We’re gathering them for some longma back home. They agreed to part with some of their wood carvings, and in return, I offered to get them something nice and practical, Rosa helped us pick these from the scrapyard.” “That’s a smart, Rosa. Recycled goods are good for those with smaller budgets, and you’ve got a decent set to start. You mentioned getting carvings from back home. I guess you’re all decorating. Are they any good? You want some more home decorations? It’s not exactly my specialty, but I could probably make something nice for you as a belated housewarming gift.”

@Blitz Boom “That’s what you call it? Impulse buying? I hope that’s the case because I might just sleep better knowing I could kick a bad habit before it becomes a habit. Still… it’s kind of weird that it happened, but if it happened before and I don’t remember it… Ach, I’ll try going back to the store some time and talk to the pony running it. Maybe he might remember my behavior, but I appreciate taking the time to help me figure things out, even if it is just narrowing down the likely explanations.” Some part of Kiba understood that what might have happened wasn’t the product of some ordinary circumstances, but perhaps Rosa was right. All of this came about because of impulse, or maybe he was secretly trying to stock up on snacks he could sneak in some for himself or Shade while working. Any odd changes in behavior could be traced to some event, but that was neither here nor there, and they still had some affairs to handle at the workshop. “Wow! You really know a lot about this stuff, huh? It kind of makes me wonder about where you studied to learn all about that because you come off as someone real smart! My guess is that an ordinary school wouldn’t teach some of the things you mentioned, and I am beginning to understand why you were picked to help with the anti-spy stuff. I only learned what I needed to get by back in school, but after that, mother and father took over and taught me about the business. Eventually, they’ll be asking me to take over running the workshop, but until then, I help out however I can.” “While we’re on the topic, I’m sort of getting used to doing some repairs for simple things. More like practicing, but it helps keep the shop running because we don’t spend as much money on buying new things when the old break down. Father’s been teaching me a little bit now and again, and we’re considering an expansion to our shop’s services one day. Home repair services for furniture; won’t need to haul in something broken when we’ll just head over to your place and fix it up for you. Father says we’ll likely introduce this to some friends in town first, but we’ll see if it’ll pan out.” It wouldn’t be long until the group arrived, and they wouldn’t be taking the front door to the store proper. The workshop’s entrance was wide open, with furniture visible near the streets and Uddo busy working around the back. The thuds of a hammer pounding down on hard wood was unmistakable, reverberating within the workshop’s interiors, but he wasn’t the one to take notice. A familiar shadow approached everyone and inspected them before hovering aside and letting them pass. “It’s nothing to worry about, Shade. You remember our guests from last night, right?” Shade grunted, though based on the way it sounded, it was less angry and more of a recognition of the folks who’ve befriended his employer. He eventually returned to prowling in the shadowy corners of the store and workshop, but by then, Uddo put his tools down to join in on meeting everyone again. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you all again so soon. What brings you all here?” “We’re doing all right, but we hoped you might be able to help us with getting some tools we got into better shape.” “Come inside and we’ll see if we can get that sorted. I take it you all rested well? And how about you, Rosa? Any problems adjusting to town?”

@Blitz Boom “These are just some things for the shop’s upkeep and maintenance. You know, soap, brushes, some oil for father’s tools… Nothing out of the ordinary. The general store is pretty much where you can grab all of these things and more. Uh, let’s see here… a box of screws, adhesives, and… food? Most of this stuff was for father, but he didn’t ask for food. Why did I buy them?” “Could it be because you’re hungry? Or just curious about what they tasted like if you haven’t tried them before?” “That’s just it… These are just packs of bagels and cookies, and I’ve already eaten so I wouldn’t need to buy food.” “Doesn’t sound right, but maybe we could look into this with your father later?” “I doubt he knows if it has happened before, but if you think it’ll help.” It would seem as if Kiba might have had a lapse in memory, but the night before has shown that he was about as normal as anyone could get. A sudden change like this couldn’t have happened this soon. However, the siblings didn’t want to try jumping to conclusions for now, as they don’t know too much about the young longma’s history to know if he’s got memory problems. Then again, there wasn’t any indication for it based on their previous two interactions. If anything were to indicate something, it was that he acclimated to Omen’s strange appearance and way of communicating faster than a lot of other creatures, but they’d take that as a good thing. The matter would be best kept hushed for now, but the more Kiba looked at the contents of his bag, the more confused he became. It’d take a bit for this worry and paralysis to subside before they all resumed their walk back to the shop. Passing back though the town served to be enough of a distraction for the siblings to take in the sights, and the young longma would be drawn back to his conversation with Rosa about what he’ll be doing in town now. “That explains you looking for oil, and I just have some on me. We’ll get it sorted at the workshop, but about that anti-spy division?… Are there really that many spies in Equesria? That doesn’t sound good. Kind of makes you wonder about who’s a spy; heh, maybe there might be one around us right now… I guess if there’s such a thing as that division, it’s got to be a serious issue. And about what you mentioned, about your mother, that is… I’m sorry to hear that.” “I’ve always known that growing up with a good family was sort of expected. If young creatures came to be because of love between their mothers and fathers, I find it hard to believe that there’d be children who’d grow up to dislike their parent, especially if their parents also loved them. Hearing that you’ve had the kind of experiences that made you not like your mother… I’m sorry about that, and I hope your relationships with the rest of your family are faring better. And, you know? You might also make some new friends so you won’t be so lonely.” Kiba would pause from the conversation to think about what Rosa said. There may be a kind of comfort in knowing he grew up with loving parents, but it got him to recall the situation surrounding Sen’s and Lin’s parents. Uddo briefly spoke of it the day before, but the thought of broken or dysfunctional families didn’t make it easier for him. It wouldn’t be long before the group would be back in town and much closer to the town square and the workshop, where Kiba’s thoughts shifted to trying to piece together how he wandered far from the town square. After all, this was where the general store could be found, just across the corner closest to the town’s large library.

@Blitz Boom “We should meet him. He could help us out with getting the tools prepared, or he could put in a good word with Uncle to let us borrow some oil real quick.” “Still, it looks kind of odd for him to be out here looking a little lost. He has lived here longer than us… unless he only stuck to a small part of town. No harm asking him about that. Come on, let’s go see him.” The siblings would approach the young longma first, though even as they approached, he didn’t quite notice them. It was only when he turned around and bumped into Sen that he regained some sense of awareness for his surroundings. Between a full pack of something that looked heavy and appearing rather uncertain, this didn’t look usual for a resident of the old town. Once that was out of the way, the longma took a moment to see who it was, and having a group of familiar faces eased his sudden worries. Whatever appearance he had earlier about looking absent in though and action was seemingly gone now. “Oh… Sen and everyone. I didn’t expect to run into all of you over here. Could I help you with anything?” “Well, we were hoping we could ask you for help with something, but could we go to your father’s workshop? We’re looking to borrow some oil and maybe help prepare some things we have with us.” “Uh… yes, of course. Come with me.” Kiba would lead the group back to his home, though he’d remain rather quiet for about half the journey. Only when they’d be within the busier parts of town did he get chattier. In all honesty, it felt rather awkward to ask about his friends’ lives, as he didn’t think it was his business to know. Then again, he was more reserved and sheltered, with first impressions looking like he didn’t have others within his age group to talk casually about anything. Still, this group was familiar, a better prospect than meeting with strangers outside of business transactions when his father or mother were too busy to handle those. If one were to inspect the pack, even at a distance, there'd be the occasional boxes of screws, wood planks, a few repair tools for the shop... and some small packs of food sealed in little bags. They didn't look too out of the ordinary, but if they were from the general store and intended for the workshop, it looked odd for Kiba to be walking away from the town. This didn't seem to be the case with his new friends walking with him back to town, but was worth noting for future occurrences on the off-chance this wasn't the first time its happened. “I noticed you all were coming from the direction of the scrap yard. See anything that got your interest? Oh, Mr. Rosa, father told me you’d be working with the local authorities as a consultant? I don’t mean to pry, but is there more you could tell me about that, or are those the kind of things that should be kept hushed?”

@Blitz Boom “Really? That’s a shame because a lot of these look fine and usable. Seeing all of this makes... it's rather wasteful…” “A lot of these things are still in fair condition and could be treasured with great care. One way or another, I hope they’ll find a good home with someone” It may have been based on some bias from Lin, seeing as she was able to find some good tools with Rosa’s help, but just the lot of these really put into perspective how much was tossed away. Even with Sen finding his telescoping rod and looking fairly giddy over the prospect of what he’d do with it could make one imagine what kind of “second life” these things could have, though it was understandable why some may have had to go. A not insignificant number of things in this area alone could be dangers if not handled with care. The saw blades come to mind, and even at a distance, the siblings were still unsure about whether they should be going near those things. When all of their things were gathered on the table for Foreman Masters to see, they’d definitely would need to find some oil following the suggestion. Perhaps cleaning and a bit of tweaking to get all of them in better shape. They knew who they’d have to see before making good on the promise to pay back the craftworkers who agreed to trade with Lin. Or if Uddo wouldn’t have everything they needed, at least he could point them toward a place that could get them sorted out. Payment wasn’t an issue, and it looks like there was nothing to worry about despite Omen’s way of communication being somewhat unnerving to those new to it. The siblings would bow to the foreman before gathering up their purchased goods, preparing to head off to their next destination. “Thank you very much, Miss Masters, for accommodating us! We won’t take up much more of your valuable time.” “Let’s head out now. I’d like to make a stop at uncle’s workshop to get these tools prepared. Shall we?” When the group would head outside, they might come across a young familiar-looking longma walking past some side streets and carrying filled saddle bags. An odd sight for him to be at this time of day, but one could imagine what Kiba is doing outside. Given how he's going about his walk, it may not have occurred to him that his new friends are naught but a short walk away, failing to notice even their presence in daylight. Perhaps he may be distracted or just focused on something else entirely.

@Blitz Boom With the more immediate concerns taken care of, Peaks and her fellow bakers would return to their work, though they’d be heading off for another supply run sooner than expected to have the ingredients ready for Ms. Scarcity’s banquet. It’ll likely not need more than their usual amount for the morning rush, but there’d be plenty to do when planning ahead, least of all their schedule. Still, there was the anxiety surrounding the next time Ms. Scarcity would appear, as this was such a large matter that even Stiff Peaks would have butterflies in her stomach. Big events like these don’t happen often, but they leave enough emotions running high that she and her fellows at the bakery were on edge. However, this was something that she wanted to do, and if there was someone needed to be the one to deliver the goods, it had to be her. There were some plans stewing in the back of her mind about wanting to bring Munchkin along in case Floral would be nearby. “All right. Sounds like a plan! I hope the craftworkers like these, if only because of their practicality.” Lin would go right back to diving through the scattered tools, finding identical items following Rosa’s suggestion. Having a small and light hammer paired with a chisel and an a gouge sounded good, and there’d be enough tools around to amass three sets. All were sturdy and didn’t look too worn out, probably good enough pass off like they’re new. It’ll be strange to see how the longma craftworkers back home would acclimate to the tools, but having a small selection of items made from a combination of wood and metal wouldn’t be too difficult. Everything looked close enough to the stone and wood tool selections, but these will surely last longer. For now, Lin would settle with what she set out to get, though it was a shame she’d forgo some of the more promising ideas she thought about some time ago. A full selection kept in a larger wooden box was much better in theory, but Lin didn’t want to dry up the group’s monetary reserves, so only the essentials had to remain. From here, she’d stick around to see what her brother and Omen would scrounge up, seeing as they were going about it as well. “Oil… this thing does feel a little creaky around the middle. It looks a little old, but not something that could fall apart any time soon. Yeah, I think this is great!” Sen had the idea to turn this into a portable spear that could collapse into itself, but lacking the knowledge to actually fashion one meant this would be a lost cause or a pipe dream at best. There might be a metalworker in town who might know how to do it, but the best one that comes to mine was Uddo. There’s probably a tool in his workshop that could help with that. If not, perhaps there might be something that could oil the old rod to have it moving smoothly. The construction of this rod was nice and simple yet sturdy enough to take some hits, and it’d be a shame if it would remain discarded. If nothing else, it could serve as a nice tool to develop a new fighting style for the longma. Before long, his attention would be directed to the sound of a bell’s chime and Shrimp taking interest in it. The sight was unexpected, but it was a cute surprise nonetheless. “I believe I found the things I’d like to bring along, and Shrimp’s found something he likes. Got this telescoping rod that looks like it'll be good for a little project and that tank from earlier. It could replace the water canteen I'm carrying around, and it's a fair bit bigger than the one I've got now. Looks like Lin and Rosa are done as well; let’s gather what we’ve got and meet up with them. They might be ready to head out.”

@Blitz Boom Once Peaks and her fellow bakers received the paperwork for Ms. Scarcity, they’d have one thorough look at it, taking notes about the finer details about the large order. Something like this would take away about two days’ worth of work, maybe three at most, if the bakers considered preparing all of the cakes on their own. It was just them, after all, and aside from the bread and buns, which were about standard for the morning rush, decorating their sponge cakes and preparing the frozen ones would take plenty more time, especially if that meant gathering more ingredients. By then, Peaks would request to meet with the courier again two days from their meeting, preferably before the lunch rush, as that was when the bakery’s operations were slowest consistently. It’ll give them time to discuss any of the more important details. However, the sealed document would be reviewed and signed, as the bakers knew that they were already part of an agreement earlier, just one that wasn’t bound legally. Just as well as things had seemingly gone for the bakery for now, Munchkin would be back as well, likely having explored more of the town on her own before returning to the bakery. There was an evident sense of exhaustion on her, as she didn't appear too keen on parting ways with the nice filly and Hammond, but sometimes, there were things that had to happen. “Sounds like there’s something to work with now, though I suppose I’ll drop the screwdrivers out of the tool set. I doubt the longma know what a screw is, so that’ll be useless. The chisels sound good, and maybe second gouge could be paired. Hmm… maybe I need to find a mallet or hammer; the folks back home used rocks in place of anything we’ve got here, so something with a good grip will see more use.” “The soft cutters are probably not what the woodcutters would need though. I’ll try looking for more identical items to complete the set because I’m going for about three in total. Maybe you might need something here as well? Knowing what brother’s doing now with Omen, I figured he's also looking to get something useful for what's to come when we return home. Actually... there might be something...” Going by what Lin remembers from her grandfather, the tools likely used by the carvers were stone chisels and large, blunt rocks. Objects were fastened together using tightly wound vines, and anything that could be deemed a risk for buildings had more materials keeping them propped up for stability. Though families living up in the trees was normal, the kind of of construction plans used for those were scrutinized heavily to make sure they won’t cause unneeded accidents for the occupants. Lin figured going back to the long table to grab something that might be useful for their home in the outskirts of town, but it can wait if Rosa wanted to talk some more. As for Sen, he’d pretty much abandon the idea of using the portable tank as anything but an alternative to the canteen he uses, though he’d need to give it a very good round of cleaning. Who knows what was being held inside it before being discarded. The file was something he’d definitely want to keep, and he and Lin could take turns keeping their claws looking proper. It was the prosthetic leg, however, that got the longma rather spooked. When Foreman Masters brought up the regulation for those, perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to hold on to one for any reason. Combined that with Omen’s earlier remark about what the longma likely got, and he’d try to distance himself from it. “A leg?! Wha… Who would throw one of these out? Actually, I don’t think I want to know. Here, Miss Masters; the, uh… leg. I think I’ll keep looking for something else.” It was as he said, and the longma returned to looking for something that could be beneficial to him or to the others. Aside from the various bits of scrap, he was more stumped than earlier, as there didn’t seem to be any tools that were, at the very least, familiar to him. It was unlikely that he’d find something that could be fashioned into a weapon for personal use, though if given a few more minutes, he’d find something that could be worth using, or holding on to that he could eventually use. He’d be back with another metal file and a telescoping rod, recovered from examining items from in the boxes from the other end of the long table where Lin and Rosa were speaking. “This one looks more reasonable, even if it is just a stick. It’s pretty nice how it can lengthen or shorten; I might be able to use something for this.”

@Blitz Boom “I admit, this is rather unexpected, but I’ll go over the details and make sure all of the preparations will be made accordingly. Thank you for the opportunity and for your purchase, and I am looking forward to this. Oh, and I’ll have your contract signed and sent by tomorrow at the latest. Have a good day!” The back door could be heard swinging open, and the sounds of hoof steps coming in, along with what could be considered as something being dragged along the floor. Peaks knew this was for tomorrow’s batch, and it was just the right time for them. The lunch crowd won’t be coming in until a little later, giving the bakers time to review the order. Well, it was just Peaks who was present, but if the rest saw the order form, they’ll either be elated at the prospect or shocked by the volume. Either way, what’s said has been done, and frankly, Peaks had to keep the bakery running somehow. This might just be what the place needs to grow, perhaps expand to places outside the old down. Of course, the sounds coming from within the bakery were more… conflicted after the fact. There was tension and some yelling and heated discussions, but those would be followed by silence and calmness. The bakers didn’t doubt the opportunity presented to them, and it was mostly fine until Peaks brought up the cakes. Buns and bread were guaranteed, and Scarcity didn’t have to worry about that. It was the cakes that were still worrisome, aside from the frozen mango tortes. That was a specialty of the bakery, but the rest of the cake order would take time. It was only until the part where they’d be compensated for the work put in to getting this order ready that the other bakers reconsidered. Seems like if they were to put this as their priority order, they’d be putting more hours into their work days. As for Munchkin, she knew she had to part ways with the young filly who caught her attention. This one felt different, but she knew the bakery was the most familiar “home” she could have. It’ll be strange to go through the day knowing she might not see this group again. However, she wanted to at least give the filly some companionship for a bit longer. When Scarcity and Floral would step outside, the cat would first bunt and rub some of her scent on the filly, then follow up to a certain distance before they’ll eventually have to part ways. The siblings looked to their surroundings, the clanging, the heat, the focus… all of it looked dangerous, but being this close really put all of that into perspective. There was a rhythm to this place, strict but done with purpose. Sen could feel it, reminding him of his younger days. He didn’t pine for them anymore, but there was discipline, and after hearing Rosa and Foreman Masters talk about it, he was certain this was good for everyone. Lin would then see the table where the tools were being sorted. A lot of them looked like they could poke an eye out, but being inexperienced with seeing tools, she’d have to try to remember the ones her grandfather used. Not quite a good start, but there may just be enough overlap. Most tools used at home were made from stone or, in some cases, actually were stones hit against each other until something came out looking carved. The chisels Lin saw at one end of the table were a good start, maybe some a hammer or small mallet could also work. In the meantime, Sen was also considering on picking something up, though he hasn’t the faintest idea of what he might actually need. What he’d end up finding were a small collection of carving knives, the kind that could find use in getting more detailed work done on wood, though it wouldn’t really fit well for practical use outside the woodworking niche. He’d hold on to those for now to show to Lin when they’ll gather later. The gouge tool that Lin found was her pick, and she’d try to find more within the tools, though she’ll end up running into a few saw blades. Those were rather terrifying up close, even if they weren’t a risk. Lin and Sen were taking their time with their search, partly to make sure they get something useful and practical and partly to avoid bringing something home that could be misconstrued as weapon. That latter part got Sen second-guessing the carving knives, though he'll still keep them on hoof. On the first pass, Lin would have a bent gouge, some straight chisels, screwdrivers with different heads, and a few odd-shaped cutters that looked like they were better suited to carving fruits than wood. It seemed that the longma thought they might have some use. “Rosa? Would you happen to know about the tools I’ve gathered? I’d like to narrow down my options to maybe about three or coming up with a small set.” At the same time, Sen would approach Omen with some interesting tools he found, though some were... questionable. Among them were a portable tank, metal nail file, and something that could be described as a discarded prosthetic limb. “Hey, Omen. I figured I might pick up some things that might be useful, though I am unsure about some of these. See anything that interests you? Now's a good time to get something you might need.”

@Blitz Boom “Sounds good! Standard-sized cakes with one more torte than the others; a great choice, if do say so myself. You’ll get an assortment of all of the cakes this bakery has to offer. Well… I guess with the assorted buns in there, you and your party will also be able to sample pretty much all of the types of buns from this bakery. That’s a pretty good deal if you or your guests have a sweet tooth.” The baker then accepted the business card given to her, with the details. The distance is fair, and going by the alternate address, this was definitely someone that Peaks will need to impress… Something tells her that this’ll be good for the business if things go well, and for a small bakery like hers, positive word of mouth can go a long way. Being famous wasn’t something that was on her mind, but having more funds to expand, to grow her business beyond what she imagined was part of a dream. Now that could be a reality that she can see coming true. From there, Peaks scribbled down the last details of the order, and she’s got it down in triplicate. Duplicate documents were nice, but that one extra could always come in handy when things go unexpectedly wrong. Once that’s done, she passed the order form to Scarcity for the finishing touches, though the signature was already a given. “Alrighty. Just need to get the last details down. Please fill in the date and location you’d like your order to be delivered to you. It’s not just me running this bakery, so I’ll review the details with my co-workers when they get back, but rest assured that when we receive your formal contract, we’ll get it back to you as soon as possible. Oh, and we must not forget your order. One frozen mango torte, the assorted bun platter, and your cinnamon rolls... All that will come to a total of 54 bits.” Lin shuddered at the thought, and even now she’s having cold feet. A courier job sounded simple enough, but with Scarcity, even the definition of “simple” may be stretched out beyond what anyone else may think. Regardless, what she heard would suffice as a guide and a warning, especially the part about not thinking about what she was delivering. As for Omen’s take, it was simple but straightforward, perhaps a little refreshing and welcomed regardless. These combined with Sen’s concern for her safety was good for a start, but the longma hoped she’d keep the thought of taking jobs from Scarcity to a minimum. To some degree, she hoped she’d be busy at home, and something tells her there’d be a chance that the group’s dynamic would change upon seeing how things were faring back home. “Thanks, everyone. I’ll keep what you all said in mind.” Sen would take the modified hard hat and slowly guide his horns through the holes. It somewhat felt like a puzzle with him trying to navigate the hat around the protrusions on the sides of his horns, but he’d get it eventually. The mare that assisted him was very intimidating but didn’t seem antagonistic. Someone like this might not be the type to have their time wasted though, so things will have to be kept straightforward. “Thank you for your help, Miss Masters. We’re not officials; my sister here is looking for woodworking tools, and we’re wondering if there might be some here?” “Yes. I was told this is a place where old things that could still be of use in some form could be found or recycled. Might that be true for tools and other similar items?”

@Blitz Boom “Thank you very much for your compliment! I’ve got my supplies right here, and an order form, Miss. It’s been a while since I used one of these, mostly since the local restaurants already had these made long ago. Without any new businesses coming for the morning rush, it’s all the same clients every day, not that I don’t like it, so to speak. It helps keep the bakery running.” Peaks put down a sheet and pen, the former containing a table where Scarcity can adder the specifics of her order. The two hundred and fifty buns of various types were already a given, and the mare can get a taste of some of them that came with the condensed milk dip. Just as was explained to Omen earlier, the varieties Scarcity would get are the plain and steamed, fried, and stuffed buns, the latter having red bean paste. The options for bread were nicely split into 5 varieties, which wouldn’t be a problem as well. After all, this was their main product; together with the buns, this part shouldn’t be too worrisome. The cakes were the part that, in all honesty, scared Stiff Peaks. Having a batch of tortes prepared every few or so days wasn’t going to be a problem since the taste and shape of that cake could stay as is as long as it is frozen. Refrigerated cakes were about as good as things could go, and it’s a good thing the bakery has its refrigeration units. Once the details were in, the baker would review the content to see if she got it down right. It was mostly a formality to ensure both she and Scarcity agree on the written details, even if repeating things verbally was sometimes seen as unnecessary. It would also give Scarcity a chance to change things before finalization. “All right, let me see. For your buns, we’ve got two hundred and fifty assorted pieces, and for your bread and cakes, those will come in twenty five and fifty three pieces, respectively. I am a little bit lost on the cakes though. Do you have a preference on sizes and types? I admit, this bakery doesn’t have that big of a selection of cakes compared to bread. We’ve got nine different flavors of cakes, including the frozen mango torte you ordered, so that’ll give you about six orders per flavor aside from one, though those cakes come in different sizes. Just to be certain, are we talking about regular-sized cakes like the torte or Petit Fours?” “I hope this doesn’t come off as an irritation, Miss Scarcity. I’d like to take on this order, but I’d like to make sure it’s done right. While we’re at this, may I know where I can reach you once we enter into this agreement?” “Hmm… I wouldn’t know if I would find myself going to Ms. Scarcity for work if I’m going to be busy back home, but I’m considering it based on what she could give. I just hope I wouldn’t be desperate enough to go to her, like having no reason to go back to the forest. Maybe I might ask Uddo for work if he is willing. His family runs a shop, but it looks like it’s just them and Shade. Perhaps they could use an extra pair of claws?” “Transportation work might be enough, but please don’t go doing something you’ll regret, Lin. You’ve already gone searching for dark magic, and I shudder to think about how successful the next time around because you got what you wanted the last time it happened.” “I’ll be careful, and if it helps, I’ll go to you, Rosa, and Omen for advice. I value what you all have to say, and knowing my lesson from the last time, I should get several opinions before deciding. I suppose there’s no use worrying about that for now, so I’m looking forward to seeing what this scrap yard has to offer. Maybe I can also see how they recycle things here.” Sen was happy with this, though he’d still keep an eye on Lin on the off-chance she’d go off the deep end and search for something out of desperation. Answers, revenge, anything that could be considered dangerous. Even if Scarcity were to go slow, Lin’s mind may be more malleable if she is experiencing strong negative emotions. She may claim to value knowledge, but having it and using it are two different things. Now for the tools, this one need led the siblings to an odd place, one that Sen didn’t encounter the last time he passed by this part of the old town. This was a scrap yard? A place for reusing old items and other things that still had some value. It was a good idea, though the sight was rather unexpectedly… unlike the rest of the town? Back home, the recycling just happened whenever and wherever it could, no need for another location. If this place had something that Lin could give to the craftworkers at home, it’ll do just fine. Maybe a nice tool could be hiding within the yard’s rough exterior. Metalworking tools might be more likely, but there’s a good chance someone threw away a serviceable tool for woodworkers. Now, someone came up to the group and advised them to wear the hard hats. Safety is understandable, and Lin didn’t have trouble using one, even if it was rather loosely sitting on her head because of her horn stumps. It was Sen who had more troubles with his hard hat hanging off one of his horns. “Uh… I think I could use some help here. Are there any hats that have holes?”

@Blitz Boom The cat remembered Floral and her relaxing pats from earlier. So it would seem that the world felt smaller when everyone knew each other, at least among those present. She was slowly taking a liking to this filly, seeing her as someone who could be trustworthy. For now, she continued purring, sitting right next the filly’s leg with her back straightened out. Peaks took notice, and although she was happy to see her feline friend was getting along well, she could only image Omen and her friends might have done a lot more exploring the day before if the town was suddenly feeling much more connected to the new group of faces. “Of course! I’ve just got a fresh batch of buns and rolls out of the oven. Now, for your cake… There’s this delectable Frozen Mango Torte, one of our bestsellers, though I’ve been told a few times that it isn’t exactly how ponies imagined when they think about cakes. Sweet as can be with a crunch in every bite! Let me get your orders for you, Miss Scarcity.” “It looks like the assorted eastern steamed buns interest you! I can get you a platter with twelve buns in it with three types of buns. Each order comes with condensed milk as a dipping sauce!” The baker started off with the three cinnamon rolls and seven buns. Those were the kinds that sell easily throughout the day, so there is definitely no shortage. Then, she returned to the back room to grab a box of the frozen cake from the freezer, as well as a small bag of carrot balls from earlier. If this was where Hammond would part ways with her, at least he’ll be going home with a bag of treats. It was the least Peaks could do. Once she got the order bundled up and ready to go, she would hear out the mare’s request. An oddly large one, probably close to something that would normally accompany a catering service. A small bakery like hers likely would need more prep time, even with the extra help she’s got, who were away gathering ingredients at the time. This one will require some serious consideration, but Peaks knows she couldn’t turn down a chance to turn a profit. Ms. Scarcity sounded like a mare of high class; brunch and meals after that? Might be a good idea if it makes the bakery more reputable. “Here you go! You came right on time for the fresh batch out the oven. I didn’t want to leave Hammond with nothing, so I included a bag of carrot balls with your order, free of charge. It wouldn’t be right for me to ask you to pay for something that isn’t on the menu. “Now on to other matters, that is a very large order, Miss Scarcity, but the bakery has had some experience with supplying parties and gatherings. I believe we can accommodate your order, or at least part of it. Assorted buns shouldn’t be a problem with ample preparation and time, but the cakes will require some clarification. If I may ask, do you have specific sizes and flavors in mind? I’d like to get an idea of what I could expect so preparations can be made accordingly. I guess I should also ask the same about your 25 orders of bread. Having this information in writing will definitely help.” “I’m not looking for anything costly or eye-catching. Just enough to get by without looking too grand. Let me worry about the cleaning; I’ve got to make it look appealing at least. The folks back home will want something practical, and going by what we gathered for your home, I guess carving tools would be a good place to start.” “Except you don’t know exactly what will make a good gift, right?” *sigh* “…yeah. Now, about what you said about her... What's on your mind, Rosa?” Lin prided herself in knowing about, or at least being aware, of the things that would catch her interest, making sure she’d have something to say about it that didn’t boil down to “I don’t know.” Except, this was one of those times she came ill-prepared. Even with her grandfather knowing a thing or two about the ins and outs of craft working, she didn’t think to go to him for advice. Seemed like recent events were going by so quickly that she didn’t factor in every possible event and how she’d tackle them. At the very least, there’d be some time to think about it while they were going about their day. Though what Rosa said about what she's willing to do. It was ominous, but Lin valued what her friend had to say, and so she opened herself to the possibility of going down an unexpected path. “Suppose there's nothing more to be done, we’ll follow your lead. Where we go is in your hooves.”

@Blitz Boom Stiff Peaks tended to the few customers who came in and paid for their choices in bread, always maintaining her cheerful disposition. The locals who frequent her bakery knew her as the big and bubbly mare who ran the morning rush with ease, seemingly having the whole situation under control. Even today, that outlook was present on her face, more so now that she got her chance to meet and talk with Omen. Today was a far cry from their first interaction, one marked with confusion and uncertainty hidden behind her usual upbeat facade. Now, it was genuine delight, a big smile, softened with understanding and acceptance. With Scarcity in her shop, the baker noticed the little ones scurrying about. Hammond was more noticeable, as he ran to the esteemed-looking guest and a little filly that accompanied her. Seemed like they were acquainted with each other. Most surprising of all was Munchkin’s behavior, as even she approached the filly and rubbed herself on her legs. That was usually a sign of affection, hinting that the cat might know this guest, especially when her purring is more audible this time around. Maybe there was more going on here… “Welcome! Please have a look around and pick out what you like! I see Munchkin and her friend are familiar with you lot; guess she’s been busy making friends when she isn't around.” “Yeah… I may have also known about Hammond’s gem since last night. He told me about how it worked, though it seems everyone here is already on the same page about that.” “This is the first time I’m hearing about that, and you did say you ran into Hammond last night, then. Regardless, I think now would be a good time to know about our alternatives for contacting you, Rosa. The couriers you mentioned will definitely be useful in case we need to get in touch.” “As for whatever else we have planned for today, I just remembered that I owe some folks for the stuff we brought here to decorate your home. I don’t want them to think I’ve neglected our trade, and I suppose those will have to double as an apology gift now. Maybe we could have a look around town and see what we could get? This might be a good time to gather some things for home.” Lin had hoped to bring back something of value to the artisans and craftworkers back home, though having no knowledge about what goes on in the trade it’ll be difficult to narrow down her options for gifts that are of equal value to carved wood panels and little wooden figurines. Tools might be nice, and they are practical items that would see much use. However, it’ll be awkward to rely on the funds Omen is carrying around. Now would be a good time to take stock of the siblings’ finances, even if the bits they gathered were mostly picked up from the ground, or the water fountain in Canterlot’s town square in Sen’s case. A quick trip around town may be in order, and they wouldn’t need to worry about making things difficult for Rosa’s new employers. There was very little chance of them being dragged out of town.

@Blitz Boom “You are very curious; that’s not a bad thing at all. I’d say that’s something that’s good to be. It’s true that ponies have many layers to them; as you learn more, there will be more complicated things to follow. However, maybe it would be best to not try to understand every single detail about something; knowing just about enough to get by is usually more than enough for most. Otherwise, you’ll probably spend too much time trying to make sense of something too big to understand. “I guess what I’m trying to say is to know your limits, but don’t hesitate to learn more. Maybe the Ponyville apple farmers could tell you more because I have no idea what goes on in their line of work. Thanks and see you around, Miss Omen! I hope you find the answers you’re looking for.” As for Munchkin, she seems to have found a nice routine with Shrimp, probably even bordering on playing. Looks like the latter might be getting used to the ida of using his tail as a toy, and Munchkin knows she should be gentle with the creature. She didn’t even have her claws out, so the only thing Shrimp will feel when his tail is caught would be the soft, bean-like pads underneath Munchkin’s feet. By then, a gate would open nearby, with Omen leaving. This was enough of a sign for the cat to leave, as the sight of such things was still unclear, possibly dangerous. For now, she’ll settle with the pet bed and Peak’s company at the bakery. Even with Hammond wondering where they’ll go next, the cat was certain about staying with Peaks. After all, this was a familiar place, and even without the new things she got to see, this bakery was familiar and comforting. It had been her refuge for the longest time, and it was hard to see it as anything else but that. Curiosity could wait for another day for her. “I wouldn’t know where to begin because I don’t want to place more burdens on you, even if they are small. Maybe we’ll have one more look around town and see you off to where you will need to be before parting ways. However, I think we need to lay out what we have planned while we still can, just so Omen knows what to expect, and we will all be on the same page. Omen? It’s good you’re here because we have something to discuss with you. It’s about what will happen moving forward…” “We won’t be able to stick around Rosa all the time now. We have things only we could do, just like Rosa has things only meant for him. We’ll still keep in touch, but we were hoping that you could help us with sending messages between ourselves. Don’t worry though because we’ve also come up with an alternative in case something makes it difficult to directly contact each other.” “We’d like to ask about your thoughts on this arrangement and if you have any questions for us. While we’re at it, how would Omen know when to go to you if you have a message for us, Rosa? I’m fairly certain long-distance mind-reading or scent-detection isn’t part of Omen’s known skills. Unless they are, and I am mistaken.” The siblings weren’t quite sure about how all this will fare for Omen, but their other concerns could wait until they could get the part that involved Omen ironed out. No point in having all of their questions pile up if they’d be left with something that isn’t quite a definitive answer. Then again, Sen thought this was it, the opportunity to really try and make some changes stick. They’ll be going home, arranging for a meeting with the elders and trying to see if what they argue for will stick. Sen would be lying if she said he wasn’t scared, but until the meeting happens, it’ll be a moment where he’d get butterflies in his stomach the more he thinks about it. As for Lin, there’d be a lot of work to do once they head on home. Perhaps there will be more to their change in routine once they could figure out what needs to be done. Grandfather would need someone to look after him regularly now that they could see each other more often. After that, it’ll be a matter of getting their affairs settled.

@Blitz Boom “That’s right, though you probably haven’t met many who dared to defy expectations. Most ponies wouldn’t try something they know they won’t like, others do so out of curiosity, and then there are the few that know how things will go and still do it anyway. I wouldn’t eat a ghost pepper though; I know my limits and won’t tempt fate otherwise. As for what makes the best food for ponies, it’s not for me to say. Growing apples looks to be a thriving business, and where there is an abundance and demand for apples, there will be others who will try to make something out of them. That’s how it goes in business, even if that is just one part of it.” Peaks isn’t one to speak for knowing whether apples are the perfect food for ponykind, though she does hold some respect for those who could make an endless number of dishes based on that one main ingredient. The bakery is what she knows, but it isn’t the kind of bakery that also makes confections on the side. It just so happened that she has some types of bread or pastries that used apples, but that’s not her main forte. Being a generalist could get her more customers, especially when her options could cater to different tastes, and being in that business for a while now hinted that there is a demand for the kind of bread she makes. That’s enough of a start to let her know what others want in their bread. Speaking of what someone wanted, Munchkin was starting to want another playmate, though the signs and gestures from Hammond didn’t seem to do much. The cat just stared back at the two odd creatures, alternating her mewing and chattering when Shrimp’s tail came back out again. Now this was what she hoped. She stretched out one paw to try and touch Shrimp’s tail, though being a literal munchkin cat means her stubby legs would only get her so far. If this was the type of play she’d expect, it’ll probably require a bit for time before something resembling the actual kind of playtime she’d hoped will happen. Peaks once brought a little toy butterfly on a stick, and seeing her wiggling it around was quite enticing. The cat wanted to see if something like it will happen here with Shrimp. Eventually, the sight of several ponies standing outside and looking at the bread display cases outside got the baker’s attention. Between that and the next batch of bread she’s preparing, there’s still more work to be done. It wouldn’t look good on her if she was caught slacking, but she was greatly enjoying her chat with Omen. Alas, there are things that should be prioritized… *sigh* “Looks like there are some potential customers outside, and I should get back to the next batch of freshly baked bread. I’m preparing for the lunch crowd, so I have to get to it before I get caught off guard. Thank you for the enlightening morning; I hope we get to meet again some time. Besides, you’ve still got that bread platter from earlier. It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t get to enjoy that.” “I’ve heard of a saying… something along the lines of ‘what’s mine is yours?’ We don’t know exactly what will happen, but it’s best to have a hideout in case we need it.” “I guess that a start for our plans, though it would be best to wait until Omen gets back before we make our preparations. Wonder what’s got her interest? She’s been away for a while…” “I’m sure she’s fine, but we might need to look for her in case this goes on for much longer. Since we’re waiting, is there anything we could do to help? I feel bad just sitting here and waiting while you’re doing some work. Maybe you can show us what you’re doing?” Though Lin was likely speaking for herself, Sen quietly agreed that he wanted to help clean the dishes. However, the two didn’t really understand what went through the process, seeing as they never had to do this kind of cleaning up before, not to mention requiring plates and utensils while eating until they ventured to Equestria. Even then, they found themselves only eating straight from their reserves or having meals with disposable tools. The exception was their dinner with Uddo and Kiba, and their uncle took charge of cleanup. They figured that if they’ll be integrating more into pony society, they’d at least try to understand and learn so they could do their part next time. After all, it wouldn’t reflect well on their friend if they appeared to slack off when they could be doing something.

@Blitz Boom “Chili, huh? Dragon chili… I’m not familiar with this, though it looks like a very hot sauce that could…. Whoa! The smell is already getting to me. And there might be fire in your nose! Quick! Drink some water or the fire alarm will go off!” The baker quickly ran into the back room and grabbed a cup of water to hand to Omen. By her looks and mannerisms, her calm disposition immediately turned into panic, and when she got back, she’s likely would have wanted the Ki’Nathar to down a little bit into her nostrils to put out a possible fire that could’ve started in it. Then again, that could just be Peaks freaking out over nothing, but knowing absolutely nothing about the possible side effects of dragon chili sauce would give her reason to be more than concerned. That, and it’ll ruin a lot of things in the store. The bread will become soggy, and she’d have the close the store early because nopony in their right mind will want to buy wet bread. That’ll really put a dent into the store’s finances and resources. A waste of bread and no money to make up for it, plus clean-up… Not a good way to go about the day. By the time the whole spectacle was over, Peaks could relax for a moment, though her panting was evidently heavy, especially if nothing else happened and the worst thing to transpire was making herself look like a fool. Better that than going home without any bits to add to her coffers. If a few drops of dragon chili sauce was all it took to start a spark, one could only imagine what several drops would do. Though this might be an opportunity to expand her clientele to dragons if she could get the ingredients right. However, this wasn’t really the time for prospecting potential customers or going back to what Omen said earlier about seeing creatures that aren’t around anymore, though she’d make a note for that in case she’ll broach that topic. It may be a little more difficult to raise, seeing as the Ki’Nathar pretty much said enough to confirm that she has been around for a very long time. “Phew! Miss Omen, if I could offer you a tip, please don’t try eating things that could start fires in the store. That said, maybe I could point you to some alternatives that are just as spicy without the side effects? I’ve heard ponies use nicknames for some chillies, and the two that stand out are the Ghost Pepper and The Reaper. Very intimidating and for a good reason. These are the kinds of chillies that can bring any pony down to their knees and make them cry for the pain to stop. Perhaps those are the kinds of chillies that interest you?” Whatever it was that Stiff Peaks experienced earlier, Munchkin didn’t seem to notice, as her attention was squarely fixated on the refraction. Seeing his tail drop down, as if prodding her, was an enticing sight. All the more she was tempted to try and play with it. For the moment, she lifted one claw and moving it to where the tail goes, enticing her inherent hunting instincts. Seems like something is starting to get Munchkin’s attention, as she was mostly interested in the odd creature. If Shrimp were to tuck his tail away, Munchkin would go back to chattering. It seemed this was what got the little creature to get its tail out, and if given the chance, they might start playing some more. “I couldn’t believe it myself when I first learned Ghilan became an elder. Only time will tell if his toughness will hold true when he isn’t fighting. As for Omen, we’ll take it slow and see what we can do for her, though maybe your couriers could be spending untold amounts of time traveling from Equestria to the longma’s forest if she couldn’t deliver our messages. That’s going to be a long walk, and we spent years on the road. Only reason we could go back and forth now is because of the gates.” “Brother, I think Rosa meant it the other way around. We'll be the ones to pass on our message to a courier to get it to Rosa. It wouldn’t be efficient if the messenger had to deliver something urgent if the receiver is too far away.” “Oh… Yeah, I guess that makes sense. That being said, we still need to figure out how to get a message homeward in case Omen can’t.“ “Hmm… You remember that cave we stayed in? I’m thinking about turning that into a second home considering no one has disturbed it for years. Even the old bedrolls and the fire pit I dug were still there after all this time. If it’ll continue to stay that way, it might be a good place to set up, and I’ll be bringing some things there make it homelier. We can leave messages there; maybe it could be a place for you to lay low in case you need it. I’ll be sure to leave a little mail box to keep the messages safe and dry. Sounds good, right?” The cave was in the outskirts of Canterlot, closer to the newer town, though still off the beaten path. There was a trail that started from the side of the road, just about a third of the way if facing away from the entrance. One would need to start by the distance marker closest to town, take a few steps forward, then turn toward the side with a visible cliff face wall and a winding path with overgrowth. The area that marked the cave’s proximity were two trees with five visible claw marks scratched deeply into the trunks. It was only a matter of walking a short distance between the two trees to find the cave entrance.

@Blitz Boom “That sounds like you are determined to understand. It may not look like it, but you don’t let setbacks stop you. From what I understand, that’s about as good as not losing hope as I could see, and it’s admirable that you can think of that so casually. Maybe things won’t make sense now, but the more you put the pieces together, the more they’ll begin to create a clearer picture.” If it is one thing that Peaks can say at this moment, it’s that Omen’s simple way of seeing things is pretty refreshing. There are days when she’d find herself stumped and out of motivation upon encountering a roadblock on her way to achieving her goals. Somehow, she could see the benefits of not being hampered by emotions, only seeing things logically. Then again, she’d be a lot colder if her logic isn’t tempered with emotion. Perhaps the secret is finding balance in both. Despite how things were looking to Omen, maybe there is hope in her finding her answers to the question of emotions. Whatever the circumstances surrounding that may be, her determination could get her to the answers she hoped. She’s already got a head start with her attitude toward trying to understand them. “You’re right about that. So many tastes, and even if there is some overlap, I won’t be able to get all of them. But, bread is simple, and the best I could do is to make bread that many ponies will enjoy. Take those crescent-shaped croissants, for example. It’s all just regular bread, but bits of it flake off, and the bread itself tastes buttery. It doesn’t look much, but it is something ponies enjoy. Not everything has to be complicated to be special; its simple taste is enough. For you, I could try some special recipes, but I suppose that will mean doing some research on spicy bread. Wonder if I could do something with chillies… This might be a little special project for me; call it a challenge to impress your tastebuds!” As for Munchkin, Shrimp sort of replying to her chattering was an interesting development. Mewing usually works for ponies, and that would get their attention most of the time. With the refraction, it appears that using a different vocalization method might be something, though it was odd that a sound normally used for birds would be the thing that caused a different reaction. Maybe this reptilian-looking creature is something more than its appearance suggests? For now, the cat continued chattering to see if it could get Shrimp to poke out his head more often, then switch to its usual calm mewing to let him and Hammond know that she isn’t being hostile. Trying to rile up some reactions may have been an interesting experiment, but knowing that these creatures are friends with the odd visitors from the day before, maybe the refraction could also be a friend. “Ghilan may not look like it, but he can be tough when he needs to be. After all, he was training to be a forest hunter, something we both share even though I turned out to be a wreck before I could get back on my feet. Don’t worry though, we’ll be around him more frequently, so we could help him out when he needs us.” “I suppose we’ll need to plan around how we’ll be communicating with each other moving forward. Might needs some paper for that one if we’ll be sending messages in case Omen can’t get a message directly to you. Hmm… now that I think of it, she could just open a gate directly to wherever you’ll be, so that might not be an issue. You think we should talk to her about setting boundaries?” “Could be worth a try to see how that’ll work. We don’t want to cause unnecessary scares with Omen suddenly showing up in the middle of the night to let you know how things are going.”

@Blitz Boom “Ponies will find it creepy if you start sniffing them up close and tell them you could track them with their scent. It’s not going leave a good impression on other ponies. So, yeah, it’s gonna be awkward and terrifying. Best to ask first if you could get somepony’s scent before sniffing and let them know why you’re doing it.” This were getting into awkward territory, and the morning was going slow enough as it was with the lack of customers. Still. Peaks continued preparing the last bits of her remaining carrot balls before tossing them into the air fryer. It’ll be a while before they’ll be ready, so there was more time to chat. She’d direct Omen and the little critters to the front counter, as the bread would all be in the oven baking. Until they were ready, it was a matter of waiting for more customers and talking with Omen. The more the two went at it, the less odd things became. The voice going into her head, the odd stare, it just didn’t feel quite like it used to be; novelty of the first experience was wearing off a lot sooner than expected, but getting to know the Ki’Nathar was tapping into an aspect of herself that she didn’t think think he had. Just as things were moving along to some other part of the store, Munchkin would be lifted to the top of the counter, the perfect place for her to stand and get a much closer look at Shrimp since they’d be in close proximity. The little cat would try using her stubby paws to reach for the refraction, though climbing on top of Omen was next once Hammond gave her the signal. Eventually, the cat would find herself standing on Omen’s back, much closer than she’d ever been to the little creature that didn’t appear to trust her at all. She’d mew once more, then start making little chattering noises to see if that will get Shrimp interested. “Hmm… as for scavenging, how do I put this? You’re right about it being gathering and using anything that you could find. But in cooking, you still have to consider how the finished product will taste, or if it is edible. Not being wasteful is good, but consider what combinations of food will work instead of throwing everything together and hoping somebody would eat it. That’s a hard thing, knowing taste combinations that work. Not even I know them.” The baker stood and thought about how Omen’s explanations fit into the bigger picture. Discord made her different, but going by what she can and can’t feel, it looks like she was capable of sensations, but processing them was another matter entirely. Seems like feeling something was a start, and the next step was something that needed confirmation. How that would work was just as important because a brute-force approach would definitely take a long time to do. Maybe some experiments could work, but how would anyone prepare the tests? This will need a lot of considerations. Even now, Peaks felt bad about Omen’s situation, but she didn’t want to say anything that could be construed as stepping out of line. She could blame Discord if she knew his motivations for wanting Omen in the first place, but could anything be comprehensible if viewed from the mind of a chaotic being? Could it even be possible for someone like herself? “Emotions are a hard thing to understand, but it sounds like you’ve spent time trying to figure them out. If Discord made things this way, would it be worth asking him why he really made you like this or if this issue could be fixed? I don’t know if using magic would fix this, or if trying to draw the emotions out through different experiences would be a better alternative, but I believe there is an answer. Don’t lose hope, Miss Omen. Perhaps the answer is out there just waiting to be found. Likewise, if you could make something of yourself, wouldn’t be worth it to try and find out? I’m sorry if I couldn’t help you out here aside from offering suggestions.” “I guess the feeling is only settling in now, but it’s been a long time since I’ve experienced time away from a friend. We’ve spent quite some time traveling together that it feels strange to be parting ways, even if we still get to see each other again. We’ve got our own lives to live, and I have to respect that you’ve also got things only you could do…” “Don’t be so dramatic, Sen. This isn’t goodbye, more like ‘see you later,’ but this’ll be an opportunity for all of us to learn about what’s ahead of us. I’m sure we’ll all have plenty to share when we meet again.” “Yeah, that’s true, but we’ll always be ready to lend you help whenever you need us, Rosa. We’ve got our work ahead wherever it takes us, but we’ll do our best!” There was a hint of Sen’s deeper issues, but he knew he couldn’t stick around Rosa permanently. It was only by chance that they even had these opportunities to spend so much time together. The siblings knew they would need to go on their own path for now, and their divergent paths would take them elsewhere. Perhaps absence would make their next meeting much livelier, and there’d always be another chance for them to work together. Those times were sparse and tense, but Sen would be the first to admit that he enjoyed working through them alongside those he knew would have his back. Perhaps with this development becoming more of a certainty, the siblings would take this time to savor their meal while chatting away without worries, even if it was only for a moment. “You are a friend to us, a very good friend, and we’ll vouch for you. If the folks back home need to slowly learn that not all outsiders are out to hurt them, we’ll do what we can to show them that. And if things don’t turn out well, you’ll still have friends among the longma. I mean, Elder Ghilan already sees you as a friend, and no outsiders could boast about having befriended a village elder, right?” (No worries with missing out on the parts with Rosa and the siblings!)