dormheads | WEEK 6 CYOA - CLAUDE, FUTABA, LUX, KON

Shit. [ but it's said in a way that is just - well, what's new? in tone, and he blows out a rush of air as he heads after her. ] No, I'm not going to be optimistic. Let's just keep on our toes.

[ a glance is sent to the right, towards that exit, but he files it away for later and instead will check out the exterior of the tavern as they come up to it. just taking it in, even as he goes to open the door to let lux in first. ]

If nothing else, I think we're at least well-suited to being in here.

[ Nothing is stopping you from trying.

Anyway, the tavern is quaint! It’s small, but the seats are filled (a man, another man, and a woman). Some light music plays and the aroma overpowers any fish smell from the markets. Very good.

The keeper greets them: ]

Welcome!

It's a nice place. Unfortunate to know that it has its own hardships, though...

[ she heads in with a polite nod of thanks to kon. inside, she gives the keeper a smile, next. ]

Hello, there. My friend and I are looking into the missing ferryman and were told this may be a good place to ask for information.

Every place has its hardships. Just depends on how well they hide it.

[ but kon hums something thoughtful, as he takes in everything - the "full house," the keeper, the music. good ambiance, at least, for their field trip. (so far.) ]

His wife sent us this way, and she mentioned that the mailmen might know something - though, a tavern is a good place to cool down after a spat, right?

[ Wow. The number of voices (there are only three but shut up) that ring to the mention of that couple. They're bright, like deep sorrow is but a myth.

Oh, that couple!

Joyous, fond laughter.

Are we sure that he didn't run off after their recent fight?

Despite all the teasing, they can tell that these people love this couple.

Ahh, we should sell tickets to watch them. I'm sure people from all over the place would come to watch.

Wait, wait. I do think he's been gone too long...

The gossip continues and the tavern keeper looks apologetic. ]

He hasn't come by in a while, though I do remember when he last had a drink here. He was complaining about his wife as usual—something about apples and not knowing any better. He also said he would run off and show her.

[ Mm. ]

Sorry I can't tell you two more. If you asked around town, I'm sure someone would be able to tell you the direction he ran off to?

[ Isn't it weird that we've been having more disappearances lately?

Must be the Shades. More of them have been showing up.

Oh, did you see the strange group of people that showed up to town a couple of days ago?

What to do? Do you want to question any of these people sitting here or leave? Maybe have a drink? I don't know your lives? ]

They both seem rather preoccupied with apples. Is it possible he went to... Obtain more apples for her, as an apology?

[ this is half to herself and half to kon, so after that thought she regards the tavern keeper again: ]

Where would be the nearest place for us to get apples?

[ got it, he thinks, more purposefully, for lux. kon will leave the apples to her, and instead figuratively chase after one of those voices. he just sort of - asks the air, we guess, in the direction of the seated patrons. ]

What strange people showed up? [ stranger than them? ]

Apples... If you head north, towards the village with the library, there should be trees there with apples, but you have to be careful since Shades are around.

[ One of them perks up, the one that talked about the strangers. They nod!

Yeah! There was this young man with more hair than I've ever seen in my life... He was wearing odd clothes, too. Even though he looked strange, he seemed very calm about everything.

The others, I didn't get a good look at, but they were weird. Trust me. ]

Alright, thank you.

[ a young man with a lot of hair? s... sure, okay. well, lux thinks that's a good enough lead from one location, and waits by the door for kon! ]

[ kon will start after her, but with One More Thing: ]

Were they heading any direction in particular, or did they just pass through?

[ because they might as well cover the various leads they might have. but they can leave once they have the answer! ]

[ Dunno! They all stopped by here at different times asking about this place and some missing people, then left.

What do you expect from people that live their life in the tavern...? To go outside and know where weirdos are going? This lady Kon is speaking to is a little tipsy, by the way. She looks at Kon like he's pleasing to her eyes.

Sure you don't want to stay for a bit? I can buy you a drink, cutie.

She.

Does not care about your age.

Run. ]

[ ......... lux opens the door for kon. ]

... There are more people we can ask before we venture far. But I wonder if he headed back towards that library village?

[ ... kon makes a bit of a face, not quite a grimace, but almost. he misses the wife calling him "sweetie" in that friendly, southern kind of way very suddenly. ] Sorry, I have a boyfriend to get back to and a quest to stumble my way through.

[ chacha slides out with that meta, bye! ]

We can head north and see if that leads us anywhere. There's that westward path, but we know where it is - we can double back if we don't see anything towards the library village.

[ The woman sure does a pikagasp face as the door to the tavern closes. They can hear a bundle of hearty laughter follow. Wow. Dunked.

As usual, this there are a lot of people at the open market! A lot of stalls to also buy from. The pier has that old man still looking out to the ocean, then some kids placing on the small beach area around the seals.

I forgot to mention this the first time, but there are some... Suspicious crates near the pier. ]

Are you capable of fighting? We may encounter Shades if we leave this city.

[ anyway meanwhile

› inspect the crates ]

[ get dunked! but kon comes to inspect the crates ]

Not trained like you, but I can hold my own, and I can improvise in a pinch against monsters, between Amatsuki and the last field trip. Might not hurt to see what kind of weapons are in the market, though.

[ CRATES!!! In them, they'll find one (1) one-handed sword and one (1) two-handed sword.

... The old man right on the pier turns to them and squints. He is wondering if he should call the police? ]

[ yeah maybe you should call the polite and file a missing person's report, old man!!! anyway lux hands the one-handed sword over to kon? and she'll take the two handed sword even though she does look a little unsure with it. ]

I have magic. But I suppose it wouldn't hurt for if I run out.

[ honestly kon full out ignores the old man, like they belong here and are doing a totally normal thing. but he does take the sword, looking at it with a little amusement. what is this RPG bullshit.

... there's a beat, seeing her with the bigger one, and then another thought that's might as well. ]

If the one-handed one would be easier to use in conjunction with your magic, it's sort of pointless for me to keep up the ruse. [ he's holding the sword with his left hand. he raises the right one and moves it with perfect mobility, wiggling his fingers. ] I got it back a couple weeks ago.

[ There are no phones in the NieR universe despite steel skeletons of modern bridges towering over the ocean, so the old man leaves them alone to enjoy the sea breeze. From the pier, they can also see wind turbines to the east.

Anyway. You got your weapons, I guess? Where to? ]

[ lux thinks then Futaba... but otherwise seems to have no strong feelings about the ruse. sometimes you lie! ]

I'll admit, I'm not that physically strong...

But your arm - even healed, are you in any shape to be putting strain on it?

[ also she'll start. heading back the way they came, i guess? she is not interested in the beach or the pier. ]

[ kon doesn't have many qualms with answering the unspoken, reaching to tap the bruises from futaba's beating. there's no muscle twitch, no twinge in his expression, no general reaction to it. ]

Can't feel it, still. But there's enough strength in it for me to move it, and wield a sword, if I have to. I'm not skilled in them no matter which one you give me, but if it benefits you to have one over the other... I'd rather you have that and not be hindered, there.

[ yeah we're going north as we have this totally normal conversation like normal people in this town. disregard us, NPCs. ]

[ They're quite used to mercenaries! If not, they welcome them. Mercenaries are great help. Some people even pass a mention that if they want money, they have some jobs they can do after they're done.

Anyway... Welcome to the Southern Plains. We have new mood music! The entrance to Seafront is narrow, but they can see ahead that it's... As it's named. Plains.

There are some trees they can spot ahead, then also some wildlife. ]

As long as you will still be able to make use of it... We should probably trade.

[ she will offer him the two handed sword instead, then. and then consult her map. wow there's literally only one possible detour. did they need this map! hello!! ]

It's, frankly, better than nothing. We didn't have anything at all on my first field trip.

[ bradley ran out of bullets, so kon threw a vase at a monster made of meat. manwol threw phone books. they had to improvise a lot. they can do the tradesies, though, and he'll look over her shoulder at the map. ( owen wilson ) wow, is his only thought at the usefulneses of it. it's fine, probably. ]

Let's head towards the trees, I guess. Apple trees can't be too far. Why fight over apples...

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