(Untitled)

[singsnonsense]

Who: Mao, anyone that wants to join him
Where: Blessenwood's marketplace
Why: Mao's looking for new recruits for Port Merrium. That, and guild business there's slowed down considerably.

Comments

[forgottenoracle]

[Cantabile had emerged from the armory after dumping a wooden shield she'd found on a particularly violent boar that she had taken out earlier that day. No, it was not the greatest treasure to be found, but she suspected that the owner had offered her less money than he would have to other sellers. Too bad she lacked a satisfactory amount of evidence, making it her word against his.

Well, a little cash was better than none at all until she joined the guild. She planned on stopping by today--she had deliberately gotten herself lost in that forest for a few days while whetting her skills because, well, she had been abandoned in a remote yet peaceful place where her swordsmanship had dulled more than she might have liked. Oh, she had a feeling she could have made it into Ad Libitum without that review session, but if she was going to do something at which she excelled, she was going to do it well, kicking asses and taking names and so forth

{Zelos is still oblivious on the whole Yuan/Kratos switch. Don't mind him too much.}

[pick_up_artist]

[Zelos had been having a pretty lousy day so far. First there was that mix-up with that kid in green, and then there had been that loony pretty-boy that he had crashed into. On top of that, he still hadn't talked with Yuan about setting up a full-scale branch in Port Merrium. As it stood, they kind of had a guild house. Kind of. Beachfront property was so expensive these days.]

[In fact, he was sluggishly making his way toward the guild house in Blessenwood to get the meeting over and done with. Zelos had taken the scenic route, and was now in the marketplace.]

[A familiar other redhead caught his attention. Well, Yuan would just have to wait some more.]

Hey, little bro! What're you doing here? I thought you were back in Port Merrium!

(... I still can't believe this kid's my boss.)

No worries. o/ Mao hasn't found out either.

[singsnonsense]

[Blessenwood was definitely busier than Mao remembered, especially if people were still being summoned by Martel. Mao honestly didn't get how a sleeping goddess could still summon people - even though he was living proof of her powers. He watched some mysterious girl (he was hoping she was a girl) challenge the vendor about market prices. Okay, even for a vendor at the marketplace, that was incredibly rude. Mao frowned as he marched over to them.]

A hundred gald? I know for a fact that orange's worth only about 30 or 40. You should know better than to overcharge her for it, sir.

[His two cents put in, Mao starts to add more - more for argument's sake than actually helping. But then... he blinks as he hears an all-too familiar voice. Immediately turning around to face Zelos, Mao runs over to him with a slight grin and puts his apple away in his pocket.]

Zelos! Just checkin' out the people here~ I was kinda wondering if there'd be some who wanted to come to Port Merrium and work over there with us.

[No way he'd mention that he

Re: No worries. o/ Mao hasn't found out either.

[pick_up_artist]

[Finally, someone genuinely happy to see him! Zelos laughed a little and ruffled Mao's hair. The kid had always been easy to work with, and he had a good sense of humour. That was probably why Yuan had made Mao the guild leader at Port Merrium instead of Zelos, despite the fact that he was still just a kid.]

Nah, you're cool. Just don't steal any of my hunnies from me, okay? [He gave Mao a good-natured light cuff on the shoulder, just to prove he was teasing.]

[He traced Mao's path back to the fruit vendor with his eyes. Well well, wasn't that a familiar face haggling over fruit?]

So, you're looking for some new recruits, huh? Well, I know one person who might be interested. Y'see that woman at the fruit stall you were just at? Go talk to her. She's good with a sword, from what I hear.

[singsnonsense]

[Mao made a face as he stared up at Zelos. No matter how many times Zelos would physically play with him... it still got annoying. Ah well, he supposed he could tolerate it for a little bit longer. And besides, it wasn't as if he could get back for it later!]

As if! Some of those hunnies looked more like rats than Huma. At least the rat Gajuma were pretty. [He laughs, though it's pretty obvious Mao isn't prejudiced against Gajuma (beastpeople) any more than he's prejudiced against Huma (humans). However, at the mention of the woman he was about to help... Mao furrowed his eyebrows as he glanced back over at her.]

Huh. You sure you don't want her just for her looks, Zelos? [Even as he says this, he's studying Cantabile closely. Zelos' words don't seem that far off, to be honest... she reminded him of the female warriors in the Royal Shield, even if it was only a little.]

[singsnonsense]

[Mao nodded in agreement with Zelos. Swaying from side to side, he almost started humming a nonsensical melody until he remembered his goal.]

Zelos pretty much got it covered~ But really, you've just gotta impress the leader! So~ Miss, you ready to show me what you've got? I'm sure Yuan'll let me and you take on some random quest here and we can get it done over here.

[He pauses for a moment.] That should be fine, right, Zelos? I've no doubt she won't be able to do anything Blessenwood throws at her~~

[forgottenoracle]

[Cantabile had nearly declared that she would either take a quest or observe someone else as they complete a quest asked to try out one of these quests, but she liked this idea more. The test would keep out the dead weight, and if it didn't she would find out during the quest.]

[Her expression sobered for a moment as Zelos mentioned duels and injuries. She nearly commented, bu Mao grabbed her attention first.]

Yeah, I'm ready. So, this Yuan person will decide the quest? Then let's go. You were headed there, right? And I wouldn't mind finding out what kind of person runs the guild.

[pick_up_artist]

I've gotta agree with you there, Little Bro. I don't think anyone would want to mess with-

[A thought hit him.]

(Wait... She want to go with him as her proctor? But that means they'll be on a mission somewhere away from here!)

(Together! Alone!)

(Without me!)

Hold up, hold up. Little Bro, I thought you said you weren't going to steal any of my hunnies. [Zelos smiled and leaned in a little closer to Mao.] Right~?

/icon goof, sorry

[singsnonsense]

[Mao sighed, rubbing his temples. The last thing he wanted to do was "steal" one of Zelos's hunnies. Honestly? Mao still didn't care much for girls - and he was sure Zelos knew it too! (And besides, Cantabile was prolly much older than him. What on earth was he supposed to do with an older girl alone in the forest?)]

I'm not stealing your hunny, Zelos~ [He stood on his tiptoes, cupping his hand to whisper in Zelo's ears.] If you're really that jealous, why don't you join us~? I'm sure your talk with grumpyface won't take very long~~

[That said, he returns to Cantabile, beaming.]