The Valinor Offensive: A Short Rest at Fort Valor

[§~Samwise~§]

Taliesin waited and watched as Mirrai tried. He gave a soft chuckle at her reaction to the nigiri. It was certainly an acquired taste. Similar to what Konane offered to Alastair he simply took what remained of the nigiri Mirrai didn't eat and popped it into his mouth without hesitation. Once he completed it he looked over and responded.

"It will certainly be nice to have our own airship and not need to constantly tax our abilities to move further." He set the plate back on the table.

"Once we're in Astor City we can stop by the tailor and let him know the good news. Also commission some more clothing." He said giving a mundane thing to look forward to while also focusing in on something that Mirrai had noted interest in.

[opius]

Alastair listened in as they spoke of plans and people, picking up a piece of the strange... uncooked? fish? over what appeared to be rice. He took an apprehensive bite and gave it an earnest try. He... wasn't sold, but at least it wasn't tentacles. Placing the piece down, he took the sake and gave it a sniff before sampling that as well. "I- Oh. Huh." The aftertaste and mouth feel caught him by surprise. Warm alcohol was... Something. "Oh that's different.." He puzzled at the beverage, looking into the cup as though trying to divine meaning from the ripples on the surface.

Some moments later, still looking into the cup, he nodded. "Not only a means to get around, but possibly a base of operations in general. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have Davrim's work in mind when we thought to purchase a ship. I hope Lucius is amenable to augmenting the typical amenities, as I fully intend to borrow some of Davrim's concept."

[CautionCat]

"I am excited to decorate. Get nice tapestries to hang up. Make it... cozy and home." She had watched Alastair's reaction, and him having a positive reaction to the warm sake was actually nice. She liked it when he liked things she also enjoyed.

"We must think of sleeping arrangements. Who would take the captain's quarters? The lower deck rooms?"

[redcoat]

"As long as I have a bed, a table, and some privacy, I'm not particular over which room I get. I wouldn't say no to the Captain's Quarters, but Taloma might have first dibs on those."

[§~Samwise~§]

Taliesin shrugged at the talk. "I'm fine with anything. Honestly could just make a doorway as a path to here. This is good a place as any."

He looked over to Mirrai for a moment and had a thought, but let that stay private. "Glade will still be open to all. I just need to know who wants accommodations rather than staying on the ship in order to shape it." He assumed that Konane would want that due to her fear of heights, but specifically didn't put her on the spot.

[Ancelas]

"If no one cares where they sleep," Ve'ra mused, "then I shall claim the largest, most comfortable room. It would not be appropriate for the first mate to have the largest cabin, and if no one wants it, I will be happy to claim it in service to this band of adventurers."

Mirrai did look relieved at the idea of some proper clothing. What she had was functional, but was certainly not her style. Or any particular style, to be quite honest.

"The utility of the glade does make any discussion of personal cabins a bit... moot, doesn't it?"

"Spoilsport."

[opius]

"I wouldn't mind having a spot near the engine room. If it's available, anyway." Alastair took another sip of the sake, another bite of nigiri.

"The Lyceum was always noisy, but it was an industrious kind of noisy. Rose's home was attached to a curio shop, and though it wasn't very busy she did keep odd hours. So I'm kind of used to that stuff."

[CautionCat]

"I do not mind space, but I would like a large bed for all the pillows the goblins gave me." She snorted, and reached over to Alastair's hair, running her fingers through it and gently brushing it. "I am used to sleeping in small spaces. I do not mind how cozy they can be. Alastair has said I make nests, so I would like to make one wherever he decides to go."

[redcoat]

Oh. Sae blinked as Ve'ra requested a room, the smile she had slipping a bit as her attention turned to her mug of wine and she took a big drink of it. Of course Ve'ra would probably want her own space. That made sense.

[§~Samwise~§]

Taliesin wasn't trying to win an argument, but he did appreciate Mirrai mirroring the use. He was looking at Mirrai as she spoke and gave her a soft smile. Part of the discussion had not leveled initially, but as he looked back to the others he replied in spite of himself.

"If people want to stay in rooms outside the Glade, who am I to argue." He reached over and brushed Mirrai's hand with his. "Less rooms to shape means I get to have a larger space higher up the tree. Also means more privacy overall." His hand twisted and tried to hook Mirrai's in an attempt to let her know that he didn't mean privacy away from her.

[uberwulfx]

"If the Captain's room is up for grabs, I believe I should take the largest room," Jaeger offered a little flatly, "for my large frame. While I would not reject an additional place in the Glade, if a portal there isn't permanent, it wouldn't do to have to search for Taliesin and disturb him from any important tasks," the last line said with a glance at Mirrai. "That besides, I would rather a presence on a ship, those vessels with which I am familiar and can assist with in the case of trouble."

A pause, and he continued. "I admit that attending the Alliance proper was great for any possible feedback I may have had and to expand my knowledge of relationships, but as my role fell to a door guard, I would have been better utilized at the Glade's outer door. Wherever possible, I would prevent more such mistakes."

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[§~Samwise~§]

((Reaction))Taliesin looked over to Jaegar as he spoke and furrowed his brow as his closing statement."None of us outside of Sae had roles for that meeting. And we got alerted the same way you would alert us." He offered with confusion in his voice.

[uberwulfx]

Jaeger's response was a noncommittal grunt.

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[Ancelas]

Ve'ra snorted. "Sae and I could guard the portal entrance just as well as anyone. Besides, I placed my claim first. Of course, we could wager it as a price in a contest of skill, perhaps."

Her tone was one of mock indignation - the room truly did not mean much to her, but now that someone else had voiced a claim after her's, her competitiveness had been triggered.


Mirrai took Taliesin's hand and gave it a squeeze, flashing him a brief smile before she looked back to others. "The meeting was very informative... You all have incredible sway, to be able to gather so many kings and leaders in one place. And to hold so much leverage over them all and choose not to exert it is admirable."

[opius]

Alastair laughed, "You *do* make nests. Dens, even." And chuckled as he leaned into the scratching of his scalp through the hair tussling. Half tuning out the talk between taliesin, Vera, and Jaeger, he caught Mirrai's comment and seemed to latch onto it.

They had... Sway? Maybe. Possibly. "Well we've been fighting for people to listen to our warnings. The four groups here only came because we've helped them in the past. I think even Cayne can admit that our meddling in his affairs was a net positive." He shrugged.

"It's been a busy summer."