Conversing

The townsfolk were beginning to barricade. Walker noted that this was not a normal occurrence.

Someone bursts into the bar, a dishevelled dwarf with beard stained black bursts in demanding a pint and asking where Walker is.

No one is in the bar, there is a big hassle at the gate and he asks Leoric is going on. Leoric replies that there was something about summoning the dead. The dwarf replies that he's been drinking, since the dead cannot rise. Leoric says he needs to get out more of the mines.

He wanders behind the bar and takes a storage box full of expensive booze. He brings two bottles, pauses then goes back for a third. He places them on the table. The pair introduce each other.

The dwarf tries to pin the booze taking on Leoric, but Leoric says Aria has already drawn him taking it. Uthil, the dwarf, tells him to tell him about the rest of his group then.

Leoric admits it's not the regular kind of group. They say elves are a bit elfy, a bit hoity toity and poncey. Leoric and Uthil discuss beard maintenance.

Uthil propositions him for the Drow, but Leoric turns him down. The dwarf explains that they set up a mine to earn some money. Leoric asks him about the mine. Uthil explains he had to close one of the entrances with dynamite because of monsters, and the glowing mushrooms underground reflect off of the water and it is pleasant.

Leoric says it might be a good place to take a girl out and Uthil says it would be nice for the lads to see someone new.

Leoric adds that they have a gnome, but he tends to be absent-minded and has a weird hairstyle.

Uthil asks about the group again. Leoric tells him about Domaru. Uthil says the elves always say they were first, but it was actually the dwarves. Aria starts drinking, looking in disbelief.

Leoric asks why so many buildings are taller when dwarves built them. Uthil explains it makes them feel important. Leoric says he has proof that the elves built it all - he found a robot inside the facility.

Leoric tires of the conversation and takes Aria along, who is very drunk. He helps her walk away.

Sakiran wakes up and sees a dwarf sat in the corner. She drags him over to Walker to make him pay him back.

Walker is angered by him adding more to his tab. Sakiran says he seems bothered. Walker picks him up and threatens him. He drops him to the mud and thanks Sakiran. She goes over to Nelalwe, who is building something precarious. She stammers nervously. Sakiran looks like at the tripod. As soon as it would fire, it would come toppling down.

Walker and Sakiran talk for a time about dwarves and gnomes. He asks her to head to Nelalwe's shop and get some ground mines. She does so.

Leoric sees Sakiran and drags Aria behind a building, cursing the fact that Sakiran is heading towards Nelalwe's shop since Aria is so drunk. He takes her down sidestreets and heads into the general store. He sees Favian in there tidying up and sweeping, arranging things and looking troubled. He waves to Leoric as he sweeps. Leoric walks in and Aria stumbles in smiling. Favian looks concerned and asks how he can help. Leoric asks if he sells ice cream. Favian says he sells cream. He asks for milk. Aria is picking up a container of pickled frogs, agitating it to make it move. Leoric buys some juice and asks for a stove but Favian does not have any. Aria places the pickled frogs down on the counter and insisted on buying them.

Favian says he can have them for free. They leave and they wave.

Sakiran looks around at Nelalwe's shop and starts tidying. She picks up a box and the bottom gives out.

Sakiran insists she bathes to feel better. They have a long conversation about being different. She admits she wouldn't like to return to the tribes. Nelalwe is glad to have spoken to her.

Nelalwe points at him through the window and Sakiran turns to look. She sees him trying to sneak away on his tip toes. They make eye contact. Sakiran runs out after them after he tries to run away. He tries to run away and Aria skids backwards in the mud. Both of them tumble to the mud. He grabs her hand and he stops. Sakiran runs after them and cuts in front of them. Leoric scoops her up and grapples her away, swinging around to the top of the tavern. Sakiran is getting angered, and he lands on a building but then slips on a bit of moss. He lands on his bottom, with Aria falling on top of him. He is a little bit hurt. Sakiran towers over them and asks what they are doing, rather angrily.

Leoric says the dwarf from earlier is taking things and Sakiran turns around. They have run into an alleyway and then into the tavern. Sakiran is able to see that they are in the tavern, so she walks in. At first, she can't see anything. Then she hears a bottle being opened from behind the counter. Sakiran peers over at them. She refuses to chase them again but Leoric keeps insisting he ran because he didn't want to be chased.

Leoric and Aria head into the kitchen and Sakiran follows them. He takes the meat out of the frying pan and fries it up. He is unsuccessful in finding eggs. Sakiran picks one up and cracks it into the pan. Leoric says that this was the surprise - a cooked meal because she'd been working so hard. She feels guilty and Aria hands her the jar of pickled frogs. Leoric places a meal each in front of them. He asks what she was doing in the workshop. She explained she made Nelalwe take a bath and she wore clean clothes. Leoric excuses himself.

Sakiran and Aria talk over their food about Aria's past and how she was an important person in her past. Aria believes Vae to be rude for stating her mind, but Sakiran does not believe her to be. Aria explains how things were different in the past. Sakiran says the urbans would probably know things more than her, and she asks if Leoric would be better. Sakiran says yes. Aria says she was smiling when she was chasing him, and Sakiran says she never smiles. Aria accuses her of being caught by the smile police. Sakiran admits she has gotten soft, and Aria thinks she could do with putting weight on since she is almost as skinny as  her, but harder. She impersonates her with a frown and Sakiran finds it funny.

Nelalwe is surprised by Leoric and she explains that Sakiran forced her to wash and wear clean clothes. She said she was a scary woman, though she finds everyone scary. Leoric asks how long she has been cooped up for. Nelalwe said Sakiran told her she was doing things wrong and impersonated her telling her to go home. Leoric asks if she'd like a bite to eat somewhere. Nelalwe says she isn't too sure. He goes to the general store and asks what meat and vegetables they have. Favian hands him all of the goods and puts them in a bag. Leoric rushes back to Walker's kitchen. Aria and Sakiran both peek in. Sakiran accuses him of being suspicious while Leoric tries to dodge the question. He tries to get her to chase Tasu for thieving. She says she doesn't take jobs from him, then tells him his meat will burn. He flips it and adds vegetables to the pot.

Sakiran finally manages to get the truth out of him, and he admits he is taking a friend on a date. Aria asks if it is a girl and it's a date. Leoric insists Aria need not say such things, showing it is true, but she rewrites in Elvish so Sakiran can read it. Sakiran catches the book before Leoric can, reads it, then hands the book back to Aria. She looks down and walks away without another word.

Aria follows Leoric, stealthing into the shadows, insisting that men are lustful. She follows him and watches outside the workshop, listening in. Nelalwe refuses to go outside for their meal and picnic, with Leoric being terribly unsuccessful. Leoric says there isn't anyone outside. Nelalwe points towards Aria peeking in. Aria is pressing her face against the glass, writing on her book the word SIN, then slinks off to the side, trailing the book against the window.

Leoric apologises, saying she can get in your hair a lot. He explains Aria is someone they are taking care of.

Nelalwe says what if they turn up again and looks scared. Leoric said he was thinking of the top of a building. Nelalwe says if they have to eat, they will stay there, though Leoric persuades her to eat in the yard. The ground is stained with oil and rust.

Nelalwe awkwardly fiddles with the table and asks what they are eating. Leoric describes the food and plates it up. Nelalwe says they aren't supposed to eat meat, and picks it up with her hands. She says it's very nice, avoiding eye contact. Leoric asks when the last time she really ate was. She says Jasmine sometimes comes round and brings food. Nelalwe stammers that Flavian sometimes gives her food and she gives him a list. Leoric says it's a shame that he had really great noodles, though they got washed away. Nelalwe said maybe the fish liked them. Leoric says they could go to the continent, and Nelalwe says anyone who tries does not come back. Leoric insists he'll be the one to find out. Nelalwe compliments the vegetables. Leoric lets her take his. She eats with her hands, and asks why he brought the food. Leoric says he could do with the food and she looks like she hadn't eaten in days. Nelalwe breaks the silence with a "so" and looks down at the table. Leoric asks if she liked the mortar. She said it was okay and she could get more gunpowder from the dwarves. He asks how her gun is coming along. She says it fires and things explode. Leoric says he is still working his out. He is surprised at seeing her outside of her overalls. Nelalwe says she was forced to change by Sakiran. Leoric says it isn't that revealing. Nelalwe asks him not to look and says that maybe Sakiran likes it but she doesn't and that she doesn't want him to look at her. Leoric keeps looking and says she's at least clothed. He asks if she has ever had a meal with a guy before or been with one. She asks how so. He says romance. She shakes her head quickly, then says she just hasn't. He asks if she's afraid of something. Nelalwe says she doesn't want to go into it and he drops it. Leoric asks what she thought of the meat, and that they don't normally eat meat. He asked why. Nelalwe said it was because nature lived, but she wasn't too sure and it didn't bother her. Leoric said it's just the circle of life. She says it doesn't really bother her. Nelalwe says she can only have meat of things she kills, but she doesn't want to kill. Leoric admits that's fair. He finishes his meal and lights a cigarette. He offers one to her to try and relax, that sometimes you have to let go. Nelalwe says letting go is dangerous. Leoric says sometimes you just need to make things about you. He shows her how to take a drag. Nelalwe says it tastes funny once she inhales, then says she doesn't feel any different, though Leoric notes she's talking better with less stuttering. Nelalwe insists she's okay.

Leoric asks about her parents. Nelalwe says her mum was gone when she was young and she stayed with her dad until he died too. She admits she didn't have any friends. He asks if she gets customers. She says she doesn't get too many. Leoric asks if she has ever fired weapons for fun. She asks why would she do that, and if they explode. Leoric says he'll let her shoot one of his rifles and reassures her that they are safe, get some empty bottles and they'll set them up. Nelalwe insists she needs to help them, but she needs to get some gunpowder. Leoric is able to persuade her to come with him to the mine to grab some. She pulls on a thick coat with a hood to cover herself up with and they head through the mine.