Sugar Hollow

The cake seemed almost as if to vanish as Xin cut another pieces – the light fluffy texture spreading across his palette as piece dissolved with a sweet tinge. He was halfway through his current piece when he heard the bell ring once more, the soft metallic chime filling the space lingering upon the air as if a warning. The familiar presence was felt long before it was ever heard, the elongated shadow of the creature stretching out across the floor. Slowly, the boy turned to looked up at the one who had addressed him. The man in black as he was referred. With cheeked still stuffed with cake and crumbs clinging to pale lips, the boy looked up at the peculiar being, more creature than man. The man’s form reflected in that single bright silver orb – The markings Lucy’ would realize were not so much a scar but a sigil, and his right remained shut partially covered by hair. A smile stretched across his lips then as he swallowed down the cake. ”Lizardman~” he called out in a slightly elated tone as if in way of answering Sione. He reached out then, without hesitation, and lightly groped at the man’s face, pulling the skin of his cheeks dangerously close to those serrated teeth. A rather unusual relationship. ”Did you see me, is it over already?” He asked before turning towards Sione , seemingly oblivious to the more reserved stance she took towards the newcomer .

”This is the one I told you about that brought me to the forest. He’s harmless.”

"hmph" Kargth said. Now getting quite a grasp on his old language once more. "Your an inquisitive little one, aren't you boy? No I'm not really stuck in my armor, I'm just quite attached to it is all." Deciding to say half truths then simply lie to the child.

"I think I'd need a magic user more then a blacksmith." Kargth said, standing up to his full height once more. Looking around Kargth tries to find anyone else that might help him. Not seeing anyone else so early in the morning he looks down at the child once more. "Can you take me to someone you might think has a map? I really have no idea where I am." The soul drain was starting to really get a hold of him now. He needed a map fast, before he had to regenerate. 

Of course the rat-hole of a tavern Inn did not have indoor plumping. Why was no land has advanced as her homeland of Gaiman??? She rather pitied these barbaric people, but she had to take what she could get.

She was so self-less that way.

Osma soaked in the warm tub, her toes being tended to by a blushing maid who was lead to doubt her own self worth when comparing her body to Osma's. Another maid was at her shoulders, rubbing away the tension that the crazy cat-lady of the Buttercream forest had caused her. On a plate nearby sat a pastry with a bite taken out of it. It was the third one she had ordered. Stress eating. Osma stared at it, trying to ignore it's siren's call. Her nails tapped against the metal tub.

The moment she lost her will power and snatched it from the plate was the moment that a knock came to the door. Osma, fearing having gotten caught indulging by someone (maids did not count as someones)she pulled the pastry down into the water. It's flake crust dispersed and floated in the liquid. "WHAT?" She snapped.

Seems her ride was ready. Oh great. "Fricking...." The water sucked up with her body as if it did not want her to leave it. She nearly kicked the maid giving her a pedicure in the face as she stepped out. Her arms rose and she had to wait a whole five seconds of just standing there being admired! "Well?!" She snapped again to get the maids to MOVE.

They dressed her, incorrectly, and redressed her, incorrectly. The third time she took charge and had to teach them now to properly dress a woman trying to out do another woman. Finally she was in her best dress, still in the simple, tighter medieval fashions than in Suiker's 1700's fluffy bunny shit.

Has she got into the a carriage, she paused to "check" her stocking and made one cart crash into the back of the other. The poor horse gasped for air, then forgot it's pain as it nickered towards Osma's exposed leg. Suiker might be dressed in more, but Osma had the flare. Armed with the upper hand, she entered the carriage and arrived at Suiker's house only two hours late.

A rather fashionably late entrance.

Suiker nodded at High Priest Yori, pleased that the offer had been satisfactory. It wouldn't be hard to route off some of the cherries to the order, and being able to cure blights was well worth the cost.

"Anonymous, please. I do hope the...poor people will enjoy the cherries."

There was a slight hint of distaste as she mentioned the poor folk, but it was subtle enough that it would be easy to miss. She wasn't fond of the dirty peasants or the unwashed masses, and tried to avoid thinking about them if possible. If only she didn't have to employ so many.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, High Priest? If not, I do believe our business is done here. Thank you for the tea, and for curing my trees. I'm sure that your order will distribute the cherries wisely, although I would urge you to try a few yourself. They're quite sweet, and I'm sure the other priests will enjoy them."

Osma was made to wait! Had she not be late so that Suiker would have to be the one waiting? That as part of the reason anyway. She turned towards the door, envy over the beauty of the room pushed way down. "Councilwoman Suiker! Look how lovely you look!" She gave a tettering laugh and smoothly crossed the room towards her.

With her hands lightly holding back her dark curls, she leaned forwards to air kiss either side of the woman's cheek. You look ridiculous. She didn't acknowledge the comment about the driver. He had been fast for being so stressed out, but really, who cared what happened to him?

Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a cat stretching on a pillow and turned her head. Nothing there. OOooddddd. She turned back to Suiker with a fake smile. "You had a visit from a priest?"

"Cherry tea, how quaint." It sounded really good actually, but Osma couldn't yield the Snob Battle so easily. She flicked her hair and waited to be invited to sit. When none came she was forced to move towards the cushioned seat, wide enough for three people, and sit down. I bet you wear of that because your ass is fat. Osma smirked at her private joke and lounged in the chair with no shame for her own shape.

"I-" she began but the rattling of the teapot was so LOUD that she was closed her lips. Cold eyes watched the maid as she fumbled about. Three drops were split and Osma gasped, rather dramatically. Really, who the hell cared? There was always someone to clean up the mess or make a new one. Her gasp when the maid was struck however, was very much real.

For all her meanness, Osma had never backhanded a servant. Or fronthanded, or kicked or punched or bit or pulled, well she did pull one another once but that was the weakest of physical assaults. Well, she tended to throw things a lot. This wasn't about her! This was about Suiker and the secret her anger revealed. Her eyes moved to Suiker before her lips cracked into a slow smile. None of THe Haves behaved in that way. They always had other people do it for them. Dur. Or the item that was ruined was so affordable to replace that it didn't matter that much.

Osma rubbed her fingers together.

Witchhazel and ice. she mentally told the maid. She complete ignored this Zero person. His name was Zero after all.

"Always incompetent." She agreed. She waited until the blur of Zero was removed from her sight before leaning forward and with quite a show, picked up her tea cup. See how easy it was for her to move around? If you called being tied and laced and pulled and into a corset and then a skin tight underdress and then an overdress that was barely loose enough easy to move around in.

"I came from Aozora." She sighed. "I was so bored . The people are blah!" Her hand waved out. "Everything is so new which seems marvelous but half the shopping is inside of tents! Can you image? There is a castle and my chambers are of course completely repaired and properly furnished, I insisted if I was to live there. Still, there is like no one of noble blood to talk to! Expect for the Prince....King....Marquis Nishan-what's his name. He is always so practically though! Totally snooze fest. What about you, Councilwoman Suiker? Is there anyone in Sugar Hollow worth more than an hour of your time?"

Suiker nodded understandingly at Osma Gaiman's tale of woe. It did seem dull, having to buy things in tents. So dirty, so common! If she were in Osma's situation, she would have the sellers bring their items out to her. After all, she had the most money, and was the most important customer.

"Yes, that does sound dull. There's nobody here, really, although a lot of people seem to think that they're much more interesting than they are. It is rather boring at times, although there's always something going on in town. Still, I make it a habit to go out of the valley and into the large towns every now and then, and sometimes further. I collect tea, you see. It's what keeps me sane."

She took a sip from her cup to emphasize her point.

"Ahh...the priest was very kind. This is better than I'd anticipated. So...how are you finding Sugar Hollow so far, Lady Gaiman?"

Osma would feel something warm and furry brush her leg underneath her skirt, then vanish. Was it her imagination again?

Marzi smiled at Toliver Wulfric and @fedlimid, and Polly ushered the two of them up to the counter. The tavern owner looked the two of them over, nodding to herself. They were definitely related, but seemed like polar opposites. One was big and loud, and the other was...not. And yet, she spotted Polly staring at the quiet one...she'd  have to tease her sister about that.

"Well, if it's lodgings and dinner that you're looking for, you've come to the right place! Toliver and Fedlimid, you said? Welcome again to Sugar Hollow. Will you two be wanting a single room, or separate? It's three silver coins per room per night, and there's a hot bath and everything. Also, dinner is served in two hours. I think I'm making meat pies tonight."

The mib merely started at the child with dark unblinking eyes – golden slits narrowing just slightly at the child’s words though if it had bothered him there was no indication, nor did the creature seem to mind the Xin’s prodding. The objective was merely to observe after all. The baker had been all but forgotten as his dark gaze now turned towards the Sione, sclera pitch black like her own. A smile stretched across his face, revealing those jagged teeth as he moved closer, hands lowering to rest upon Xin’s shoulders. Clawed digits lightly tracing over the fabric of the dark cloak – threatening to tear into the fabric with the slightest touch. Dangerously close, as was his maw. The plum had been devoured core and all and traces of juice trailed down the male’s chin as if a bloody trail.

“Then we count on you to look after him, it would be a shame if something happened before he could complete his trial.” There was a hint within the creature’s voice- something knowing – yet what that was The creature was just as unlikely to divulge.