Oh, and mine was 238, for what it's worth. 

Not too exceptional, I've always had better results with tempering constitutions and mentalities then cultivation like that... 

Oh well. 

Oh and Ruby, don't forget to show off your flames cooking properties! 

Forging flames are actually ok for a lot of things, but your Pheonix arts are just mmph, though getting the alignment quite right seems a little touchy, even in principle - I'll have a few more notes soon for making some cooking implements to make the best use of them! 

ok. l'll be in touch, after meet w/ @moonsilver.

...Oh yes. 

Better get prepared. 

Following the instructions for recovery pointed to by Mindful Master Maid was pretty helpful, but it definitely left her in the sort of condition where it was a good deal more natural to just relax back and read the chat as it came in then really do anything. 

She felt... if not ready to face the day, 'merely' a little tired and laggy rather then aggressively shoved-down or some such, and as long as she didn't cultivate without a bit more rest...

Should be fine, which was aptly demonstrated when she was able to just manhandle the detritus in there to clear plenty of space for whatever she had in mind. Getting a yoga mat was probably a bit much to ask, in the time she had left, but there were a handful of perfectly fine beach mats lying around in a sub-basement that would probably be fine. 

Alright. 

She swung her arms around, feeling so free to just have that strength waiting for her, ready to tap and use at any moment, with that idealized flexibility and grace that just made motion so reasonable feeling. 

She smiled a little, and sat back by her door, waiting as she drafted up some questions on her phone. 

About half-an hour later, there's a firm repeated rap on the door. 

Hey. 'm here. 

She perked up as the alert popped up, and walked over to the door. 

The door opened out just around the moment she came by with the screeching sound of twisted metal, the door stopper snapped open and the hinges warped as she forced it open with a casual motion. 

"'ey, you must be Moonsilver. Pleasure to meet ya." 

She reached out her firm hand to shake, leaning in with the help of the flying sword she balanced on subtly adjusting to let her float in closer. 

She wore nothing but a satchel slung across her back, a minimal white two-piece bikini, and a pair each of welding goggles and thick metallic bracers upon each of her forearms.

...She took the opportunity to both stare in horror at the mess of her front door and to stare at those beautiful breasts and hard abs speechlessly, because that was totally what she was going for and she wasn't even entirely sure she could stop herself from watching in awe, though...

She could sense something about her, beyond just the obvious fact that she was clearly controlling that sword at her feet, that it was made out of something special, considering how it looking like the entire blade was made out of this multifaceted gem save for tracery in gold, that there was an extra weight to her, that... 'smelled' of the elements she'd breathed and...

Yes shake her hand, try not to look too hard at her toned thighs as she shook her hand, clasping back firmly to try to do this politely. 

"Pleasure to meet you, Rabid Ruby Smelting Savant..." 

"Ooh you're sharp, aren't you?" 

Her slightly rough hand cupped her cheek, brushing fingertips across it as a soft tingly flush spread throughout her. 

Her breath hitched for a moment and - 

Oh. 

The warm radiance of life and rebirth spread throughout her system as she instinctively balanced it, shivering and pressing in unconciously as her lungs expanded further then she expected they could before, filling her body and then... 

shaky-exhale-relieved-sigh.

"Fuck you are adorable. And adaptable too, it looks like." 

She pinched her cheeks, fussing with them lightly, then dropped her hands to her sides bashfully.

"Anyways, should probably get in, make you some tea and sit you down to talk, yeah? Seems like you really need the chance to actually talk and such, 'nd there's so much to learn, even now. So..." 

She kicked off her sword, and flipped up and over her, sword sliding back down to her hip as if sheathed. 

"And don't worry about the door - perceptual filter's up around the thing, and needed to dismantle it a little to construct something a little better, assuming you want to stay here, and if not..." 

Shrug clicks her tongue.

"Can just repair it good as new in like a min." 

She turned and followed, scoffing a little despite herself at just how... 

dramatic that entrance was. 

Ruby clunked down onto the kitchen table, dropping the bag onto a seat next to her to paw through it, before quickly producing two fragrant tea bags maybe a quarter full of leaves imbued with weak wood qi. 

"So ok. I'll get the tea running, run the flames for the best experience and give you the space to think, ok? Like, I realize that I have 'Rabid' in my fucking Dao name, but that doesn't mean that I don't have patience or the ability to give you space. New cultivation stuff is really always overwhelming, and when it's a fateful encounter thrusting you into 'nother world, it's a whole 'nother level. Remember 'm here to help." 

She popped over to the stove, made a slightly unsatisfied grunt, and ran her finger over the metal supports with a blue-white jet of fire that carved thin burns into it in the shape of an inscription, before turning it on to produce a flame that looked much the same, then filled the kettle and settled back down. 

"...Okay." 

Breathe settle in, relax, nod. 

"Could you start from what that was and just... what your general advice is for someone starting out? I don't know enough to ask, in a lot of ways, as best I can tell." 

She snorts. 

"Have you read the whole genre of lit on this whole... thing?" 

She gestures vaguely. 

"One of the most common refrains in 'em is that to cultivate is the will to defy the heavens. If you can't just let yourself ask the questions you have, then you're shooting yourself in the foot." 

She lets out a small hum-sigh. 

"Though happy to answer what you do ask - just a lil disposable formation to generate slash convert existing flames to 'Phoenix' ones. Something like that has a half-life of like a week, but half-the-reason I did it that way is it's a decent measure of luck too, since it can break down at any moment completely, but doesn't really... 'wear down', at least under the sorta conditions you'll have here." 

She rolled her eyes a little. 

"That's part of it, but also..." 

She grinned, a touch, and laughed shortly. 

"It's a test of it's own, if more of a rorschach one then some clever experiment like whatever technique you used when you touched my cheek - that felt like it was some sort of exotic fire elemental energy, probably the same sort as what you are using for the kettle." 

"Reasonable enough." 

She titled her head slightly back in concession. 

"The basic answer is... You need a value prop, as a cultivator. Being a novelty is super useful, of course, and getting support helps too, but takes a while before you can get to the point where you can reasonably hunt so you should try to get a niche - most want a production skill, but really any interesting trick can make something worthwhile. I can forge and do formations well enough that it's easy for me to get a lot of cultivation resources and... money I guess if I ever decided to want that? And most of the group has at least one thing that they do one the level of there realm - be it talismans or cooking or alchemy or whatever. That being said... you actually do need a good bit more basic stuff, too." 

"I suppose that makes sense - I just... can't say I know what getting that looks like." 

"Yeah that's the awkward bit - there's no real... natural spot to get all of it, you know? There's always a time where you need a new upgrade, a new trick, and not always a good opportunity to earn for it. That's what makes loose cultivation hard, alongside stuff like getting ganked by demonic cultivators or something like that." 

She rummaged around in her bag, then slapped down a few handfuls of cash stacks, each a mass of red bills in light brown clips keeping them fairly neat. 

"This is just twenty wads of 100 - 200k, net. It's all real, and it's yours caveat free - hell, most of the reason I went that low 's cause more is a bitch to carry and best to just wire you more - there's 5 million for you when you want to bother with that. Do whatever the fuck you want with it, 'cause like this isn't worth that much. Can make that in like 5 minutes, For what more to get you... I can't do everything, but to start, setting up basic defenses 'round here, a safe-enough sparring and cultivation spot, and a basic weapon is something that I can easily provide you. I don't have any decent quality unburdened techniques suitable for your level, so passing on techniques isn't something I can do for you, properly, at least - but the fox loves collecting those, so shouldn't be too problematic. Your meditation and fist technique should be fine 'til at least peak of True Master, but for the goddess's sake get an agility technique - you need one, and specialized body tempering methods and trades are prob. your next priority. Though..." 

"There's a reason why it's called 'foundation building' - it's time to train, not earn or demonstrate mastery. Better results here give better results later down the line, and doing well enough 'll open a lotta doors and garner a lot of interest." 

nodnodnodnod.

Staring at the bills was natural, too, and she couldn't help but think of the scenarios she'd normally associate with that much money - some high drama political plot, a heist, or some dubious massive purchase of drugs or a nouse. 

It was... a relief, and considering that rates she mentioned, she wouldn't be suprised if that was just a minor sweetener and of course the products of a cultivator were valuable but...

It was a lot, to an extent that was hard to believe. 

"That... makes sense." 

Breathe. 

"And of course thank you for the help and..." 

Pause. 

"What does this make me owe, then?"

Bemused snort. 

"That's always the question. The answer is... Arguably nothing." 

Her sword floated over to the stove's temprature knob, shutting it off as a whistle started faintly going, and brought over the kettle and mugs. 

"It's not that simple." 

And that's not a question.

"Course 'course." 

She pours out the water, and smiles a little as the smell hits her and the energy starts diffusing properly into the medium. 

""s just important to note - you literally don't owe anything. But well..." 

Vague gestures. 

"Expectations exist?" 

"Yeah something like that." 

She hummed quietly. 

"Ah shoulda brought in some nicer milk and sugars - MMM's sweetener's great source of pep and makes this sorta thing a good bit better... Ah well." 

She drew back a moment. 

"I guess the best way to explain it is something more like..." 

She taps her hand against the table. 

"Getting an education in primary and secondary school is free for the kid, basically, and in vast majority of places you can just up and leave to nearly anywhere and nothing stops you. But the whole thing is intended to be part of the system where you aren't supposed to want to leave, 's supposed to be part of the cycle of investments and dues to promote a stronger community. This isn't supposed to be coercive or abusive like the school system, but there's a way that this all can be a bit dick-swingy, yeah?" 

Soft chuckle curt nod. 

"Oh yes. Novels at least are full of just... so much drama, there."