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A little shrug. 

I trust you. 

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When Ishaza returns, she's brought a tray with a french press, two cups, and a small tin of coffee grounds. 

"A new invention for the pressing of coffee grounds. I think it'll be all the rage." She smiles, sets the tray down across the table from Wynn, and begins to press the coffee right in front of her eyes. "You asked about the town, yes? This is Spasiba. You're in the high section of the trade quarter right now, where the Guild offices and high-class businesses such as us are located. The Tyrepts are southwest of us; we trade with them occasionally, which is where these coffee beans came from." 

She taps her lips with two fingetips, the motion almost a kiss. "It's quiet, here, compared to most of the Wastes. The odd pack of wolves or group of bandits. The local adventurers keep anything truly dangerous from approaching too close. And, in turn, the Gilded Rose offers comfort and succor to those adventurers. It's a profession that I take great pride in."

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Wynn is drinking the pomegranate juice from her golden rune-laden cup.

She recognizes the press, and doesn't think to pretend ignorance. She begins to silently judge Ishaza's barista skills against her own, subconsciously. (She licks her lips slightly when Ishaza touches hers.)

"Oh man, the wolves. Sheesh. Those mutts are annoying. Took 'em a whole month to learn to stop trying me and eating fire for it. So, this quarter would definitely be the place to liquidate some gear and maybe have a chat with the Guild?"

And then, with an absentminded "pes" and a gesture, cleans out the juice left in the chalice. "Use this, please?"

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"Certainly, to both your questions." She doesn't comment on the cup; instead she simply fills it from the press, and offers it. "I overheard you paying; it's rare we have someone pay in kind with runework. I would estimate there are perhaps a dozen people in the city who can bind runes, total. These lights were done by a local a few years ago; it's part of my duties to keep them charged with the occasional evocation. Given your generosity, you're to be afforded the establishment's best." She smiles slightly. "Please, don't forget your meal. Do you mind if I make myself a coffee as well?"

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She's been eating, and takes another bite at the reminder.

An excellent data point! She's a rare magic item maker. Subvocalizing again, "A fucking tinker, oh shit." Her ears shift in thought back and forth. Is there a probable place she could have found the thing?? Who knows?? Nah, don't deny it. Don't confirm either.

"Well it was that or go wander around trying to sell it and fuss over haggling and be all grumpy for longer. And I have gotten really bored. I'm kind of impulsive sometimes, it's maybe bad. And go ahead."

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She pours herself a coffee, and nods. "I don't begrudge impulsive decisions. It was an impulsive decision that started me on this path, and now I've made it my career and wouldn't trade it for the world. Risking something is always necessary in order to gain something." She picks up her coffee, takes a small sip that leaves behind a silver imprint of her lips on the cup. "And it's alright, the skill is not so rare you're likely to be accosted about it. Particularly as you've very capable of defending yourself. You'll certainly have clients if you advertise, but the chance of someone trying something unsavoury..." She shrugs. "Low. Not zero, but low. And anyone who would be so bold as to try to accost you here..." She shakes her head. "The Adventurer's Guild would be up in arms, as well as the local nobility. Places like this are of necessity neutral and safe."

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"...You are seeing straight through me. Unless I just confirmed it, that's a thing. Bleh. I get it, Somer's Rock or whatever, yeah. Don't start a fight in the tavern, everyone loses." Sigh. "Well, since you're apparently a khaa build I can stop keeping the weird references in check, right? It's annoying. Even though I know you don't get it they just slip right out."

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She laughs. "Alright. I've seen and done weirder things than you, I think."

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"Press eks to doubt." This one was clearly, obviously deliberate.

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She giggles. "At least you have a sense of humor about it. I get far too many self-important clients."

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"Mmhm. I don't suppose you know where I could get some good data on magic theory? I'm, uh, kind of coasting along on insane blind luck here, honestly."

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"I have the basics, but no runes. I wouldn't know where to begin, I'm afraid; but perhaps I could talk to someone about it in the morning."

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"No rush." She is steadily sipping coffee having mostly finished the dinner and is occasionally brushing a hand through her hair or stopping herself from doing the same to her tail as if itchy or self-conscious.

"...What's the country like, where even am I? I really just went south from the Wastes until I got here and you can assume I'm about as informed as a four year old. Since I've already been revealed as a bakagaijin."

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"Oh, you're from the White? Lovely country, from what I've heard. A bit rugged. I've heard there are natural hot springs there... But you don't want to talk about where you're from, you want to talk about where you are. The kingdom is Relvos, under Queen Selena Relvos; she's a young queen, but competent, and she's strengthened the Guilds significantly since she came to the throne, a situation we're presently enjoying. We have the city on the river, with the usual fields and pastures outside the walls; northwest of here is the border of the Untainted, though it's far from any major nation - the local minor kingdom is Valamin, so named because they grow valerian and other alchemic herbs for export; it's a bit of a nowhere place, but the land is fertile and safe. Out here it's more rugged, as I'm sure you've seen - we're practically on the border of the Green, here, the land is wild... but it's home." She sips at her coffee, and taps her fingers against the side of it. 

"Let me see... South of here there's the Vynait Republic, which, like us, encourages the Adventurer's Guild. They trade with the Tyrepts as well. The Vynaits are more of a human kingdom, whereas us and the Tyrepts are... the common word is "beastmen", but I prefer my native tongue's alrian, which means 'the joyful people', more or less. It's a local name - don't try that on the Tyrepts, they won't know what you mean."

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"Beastmen." She snorts derisively. "Racism behind polite smiles. Power assembles itself. You know-"

She frowns and arrests an incipient rant about Social Justice and corruption and slavery and nobles.

"-Shutting up about politics. Just, no, that's not relaxing at all."

Sigh. She's homesick now.

"...Home is where the heart is. Paradise or ghetto. 'Till it gets worn away by time. I, um, shouldn't tell the whole story, but I can't go home, I think." She shrugs. "I miss the music. I miss the food and the - libraries. Don't suppose you've heard of rock music."

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Ishaza nods. "I don't know it, but I can play the violin if you'd like something to listen to."

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"I want to try showing you some. It's not the same at all without a full band but if there's a guitar and a couple drums around, at least..."

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"I could have a guitar brought up at least, shall I?"

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"I don't know. It's kind of stupid. Maybe I should just-"

She goes quiet in thought for a bit.

"Something about this whole everything is putting me on edge. So please don't mind if I just ramble for a while. I used to be poor, and- Poor by our standards, I mean. But there's so many little things that are probably expensive and inconvenient here. How many servants' work hours for a night in a room like this? Convenient lights, good plumbing, probably something for temperature in the walls. Is that amazingly luxuriant? If you couldn't afford at least that much plus app- magic items for household tasks, you were pathetic. A wretch deeply in need of help. And I'm-" She gulps dryly. "It's stupid that it feels like too much, room service in formal wear, and, not enough at the same time."

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Ishaza sets down her cup. "... It sounds like you're a long way from home and hurting. I don't think you're pathetic; I think it's wonderful that you want others to be wealthy and free. Seeing the wider world for the first time can... be quite the shock." 

She looks seriously at Wynn. "I... it can be fraught, getting comfort from someone whose purpose is to serve you... but as one woman to another, I want to offer this. Would you like a hug?"

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"...Yeah, when it's your job," referring to it being fraught. "No the waitress is not flirting with you," she mutters under her breath.

The industrial revolution and the internet were the greatest things ever to happen to human development, honestly. Grocery stores and electricity and running water: The terminus of mind-boggling amounts of effort. "Made life easy. But that's the whole point." It hurts to think about.

Slight headshake, and she leans back and closes her eyes. "But yeah, honestly, yeah."

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She stands up, steps around the small table, sits down on the couch next to Wynn, and brings her into a gentle embrace. 

Her touch is soft and practiced. She smells slightly of cinnamon perfume. Her ample breasts do squish a bit against Wynn, but it's honestly incidental.

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Wynn relaxes into the scent and touch for a while. This is nice. It's just... She might not get it, but she gets it. She just somehow feels more at home with Ishaza here than Luna.

Until she starts feeling awkward again and pulls away, at least.

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"You know, a little spa experience would be nice. I want to try this first, though. Do a little music together."

She has a clear vision of it. Her beat up electric guitar and borrowed amp. Clear enough for construct magic?

...Apparently not. The amp doesn't work. Because she doesn't know how it works on, like, the electricity level probably.

She shrugs and lets the constructs vanish. "Apparently not."

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Ishaza smiles wryly. "There's still our guitar, if you like. Or shall I go fetch a brush from the bathroom and attend to your hair and tail?"

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