Smuggler's Vale - A Wobbly Walk

[CautionCat]

"Attracting the wrong animals to camp. I would not mind making some friends- I did that a lot at home. I used to feed the chipmunks and birds, sitting in my back yard."

She sighed, frowning. "I hope they are doing well... I think I made friends easier with animals than other people sometimes. I... have some human friends, but they were really... just gossip and mean sometimes. I think running away from home saved me from being a similar sort."

[opius]

Alastair tilted his head some. "Huh. Really... I wouldn't think you'd have had any trouble making friends." He tapped his chin as he contemplated before heading inside of the communal building. "There weren't many animals around town- squirrels in the parks and the occasional scavenger, birds, sure, but nothing much larger than cats. I used to spend time with the strays around town. They were fun to watch. A bit of a noisy nuisance at night, but benign otherwise."

[CautionCat]

"Oh I made friends with many cats." Konane smiled, looking to Emmett as Alastair started into the community hall. "Come, Emmett. You don't eat, but I am sure you would like company."

"Especially when I was a fox. When you become their size, and friendly, they warm up to you quickly."

[opius]

Emmet remained still for some time before turning and slowly lumbering after Konane, silent as he trundled behind the two.

"Oh for sure. I'm certain you like our company, right?" Alastair looked back at Emmett with a crookedy smile. "Unless you'd prefer to wander. Maybe after you'd like to explore the town? You can do that if you want, you know. Meet some people, see some things..."

[CautionCat]

"Let him meander on his own?" Konane blinked some, and tilted her head. "Well, it is exciting. Maybe you can make friends with Bergamont, too."

She clasped her hands together, looking to Emmett as he followed. "You may not be able to climb buildings, or ride his back, though. He showed me his little hideaway! He has collected so many things... Like... hmn. Like a dragon, actually. Except it is mostly junk."

[opius]

"Friends with a goat?" He glanced back at Emmet. "...I could see it. Emmet's a likeable fellow." Nodding, he looked ahead and lead the way to the communal dining hall. "...Careful how loudly you say that. I don't think Ferrovax will like the idea of someone else having a horde!"

[CautionCat]

"I am sure he already saw it. Bergamont has it all on a roof." Konane smiled, chuckling some. "Maybe Ferrovax would be proud."

"Ah... I will be sad when we finally have to move on from here. It is a cozy, nice town and reminds me a little of home... if it was in the mountains."

[opius]

Alastair frowned and glanced back at Konane. After some moments he nodded and looked down. "...Yeah. It's... Nice. It's quite nice. It seems like every other town we've gone to we've either been nobodies not worth a moment's time, or scrutinized as suspicious outsiders..." He rubbed his chin. "Technically we kind of deserved it in Kel Mar for what we did. But I mean, so far here we've just... fit in. We helped and got thanked for helping." He shook his head.

"It's cozy. But... If we're going to help places like this long-term, we need to throw a wrench in the war machine and make sure the gears seize for good. And that means saying goodbye, at least for a time."

[CautionCat]

She nodded, smiling. "Yes, after our mission, I wouldn't mind traveling and visiting the places we've been to... and new places. I think I have that... wanderlust. I didn't when I first ran away, but now... It tickles me to just travel around."

Konane bumped her shoulder into Alastair's the smile not fading. "We can go back to Liore, you can finish your studies, and then... just see the world. Help people in towns we go to, or... Oh! A traveling shop! I could sell herbs and you can make your tinkery things! And Klinkle can sell her potions! Jaeger can play his music, and Sae and Taliesin can... hmn... Well, Sae cannot sell her bullets... but she makes those pretty little things! Taliesin can help me grow my herbs!

[opius]

He frowned and chuckled and went to shake his head. But the more she talked, the more... infectious her optimism became. He found himself blinking and laughing and slowly beginning to nod. "My goodness, you make the life of a nomad sound like a dream. Half merchants and half a traveling show." Grinning, he bit his tongue as they walked through the community building.

"You're all quite talented... We could get a big wagon, or- or make a home that moves with us. A small flying vessel, or something that rolls on the ground with wheels. Maybe with a front facing booth with a canopy, like the tonic selling men." He laughed again. "And everyone we meet will have more reason to think you're a tabaxi traveler."

[CautionCat]

"Tabaxi? Oh." She was so comfortable, she nearly forgot she was... herself. She smiled, and shrugged. "I suppose to the untrained eye, I would look like a cat person."

Konane squinted, giggling. "A cat with a slightly longer snout. Maybe the black fur, it will make it hard to tell."

She bit her lip, thinking, and furrowed her brows some. "Thank you... for coaxing me into being... me, today. It really makes a difference to just... not hide."

[opius]

He cocked a brow and looked at her, pausing in his steps. And then with a few moments consideration he began to feel a little sheepish. "Oh, gosh. Right, our conversation last night. I hadn't considered how difficult it must be to hide who you are. I mean, after what Tali went through, it should have been obvious to me..."

He shook his head. "You, Alain, Tali... I take for granted that being able to just be 'me' is a luxury. Even Sae has to wear different faces for different people." He rubbed the back of his neck. "And the Doctor... I know he keeps silent because of his lisp."

Lips tight, he placed his hands on his hips. "I'm happy you can be yourself. It's a step forward, and we ought to keep being ourselves. To heck what the world says, I think you guys are just great the way you are." He smiled and nodded with a knot in his brows and a quirk in his grin. Brazen and righteously indignant.

As he turned to make his way into the cafeteria, he lifted a hand. "Besides, that shape you're in is easily as attractive as your other one. It might actually help us in the long run!"

[CautionCat]

That made her pause in step, feeling her cheeks flush. "You... Really think so?" And she hurried to catch back up with him.

"I... Tried being myself with someone else before, and... I don't think they liked it." She frowned, rubbing her cheeks as she moved with him into the cafeteria.

"It was a silly thing to do, I think. Very dumb of me. But... You really think I am attractive, Alastair? Like this?"

[opius]

He cocked a brow and glanced at her. "Well... Yes? The dark fur brings your eyes way more, and your hair's a bit shinier. Plus the extra fluff makes you a lot softer looking in places. Your tail wags when you're happy, and your ears are always moving when you've got something on your mind." He pointed. "See? Wobbly listeners on the fritz."

He laughed and shook his head. "The whiskers were a little odd at first, same with the teeth, but I think they've grown on me. Miss the freckles a little, though, but y'know. We can't all be birds of a feather." He shrugged as he found his way in line.

"I find myself in the presence of some very attractive people. Sae is a shapely woman under the armor, and Taliesin is extremely handsome. Felix is downright pretty, and I'm amazed that no one's tied Jaeger down to be their husband yet. Klinkle has some excellently preened feathers and I'm certain she polishes her beak when I'm not looking. It's probably the reason why you're all so fixated on making sure I dress well and comb my hair- you're all very good at taking care of yourselves and I stick out like a sore thumb!" He laughed again.

"But here I am going on and on... You actually showed someone before?"

[CautionCat]

Oh no does he like me too?? Konane felt flustered, and then he went on about the party and... She felt a little less flustered, and more concerned, but still flustered. She was rubbing her cheeks more, and she frowned a little as he directed the conversation to... Showing someone.

"Ah... Well... It was Floren..." She moved her hands to her sides, paused, the folded her arms. "It was... Dumb but I just... I don't know what I was thinking, really."

She folded her ears back, and glanced away from Alastair. She needed a subject change. Looking back to him, her ears went back up, brows raised. "Do you not find yourself attractive?"