~ Dankin's Café ~ OCs, [NPC]s, Users and Staff Welcome!

[Kirana Azadju]

The little golden bell atop the Café door gave a soft jingle once again. Slowly, Kira entered the establishment, hovering by the entrance for a moment. She took in her surroundings, making sure there were no giant snakes around… but it seemed safe. There was a pleasant smell of sugar and coffee hanging in the air, creating a warm cozy atmosphere. This was nice and calming, and strangely unfamiliar in association with Dankin.

Wolven Bird

Kira let her guard down and gave a greeting nod to Alex and Flint, the well-known duo who caused any scene to be a lot more energetic and cheerful.There were a few guests, it seemed the business went well. A glance around the room and she didn’t notice anyone else familiar, however.

Dankin

So she went straight towards the counter behind which Dankin was fidgeting with something, probably putting together an order, his back to her. Sitting down at the bar stool right in front of him she began to study the menu silently as he had not noticed her yet, a calm smile on her face. Her juvenile dragon companion, Coal, made himself comfortable, curling up on her lap, a yawn exposing two rows of small but very sharp teeth. Absentmindedly, she caressed the dragon’s back as it tucked it’s head under one wing and took a nap. This place made her feel strangely peaceful.

[Arashisora]

Dankin

((I figured. It's nice when you, Nash, Tinka, etc. can make it on Fridays but, the whole time zone thing...ack! sweatdrop Getting sleep is more important! 3nodding ))

Ara smiled as Mana gushed adorably over Alex's wolf and took a sip of her coffee. Between the taste of bitter relief on her tongue and the sound of familiar voices, her stress from before began to ebb. The mobile buzzed and she glanced at it with lethargic indifference. Her cohorts had caught dinner and kept some for her. They were alright, really; perhaps, she'd bring them more coffee after all...

Wolven Bird

Alex's energy and enthusiasm was such that Ara immediately wanted to salute them in response to their greeting. Had she not been so worn out, she probably would have done so but, instead, she settled for a smile and a wave. Monsters and Regulars weren't always the best of pals but, Alex was the fair sort and always a welcome face.

Mademoiselle Alvinette

Speaking of friendly faces, Natalie had returned and, if her expression as she sighted the wolf was anything to go by, Alex was probably about to be treated to some adorable dog pictures.

Natalie's earlier description of Gaian diversity to Cara had been on Ara's mind a little, since her last visit. Gaia had all sorts of creatures: humans, elves, monsters, kin, paws, terrestrials, extraterrestrials, cyborgs, the list went on. They'd mingled freely enough over the years to the extent that Ara believed there was hardly a human left who hadn't at least been altered by a virus or a vampire or some other interaction and visa versa. But, that was only her own conjecture and not a universally appreciated one, at that.

Xwtek

Dankin seemed to have struck up another conversation about his exploits with a different customer and Ara was grateful for a chance to sit back, sip coffee, and observe. Some of the information could prove useful; adventurers and monsters often traveled similar routes.

Kirana Azadju

The appearance of a new customer, who was accompanied by a most-excellent dragon, did not escape Ara's attention. However, she would finish her drink and wait to see whether this new arrival preferred to rest or converse.

((Lurking like a lurkery lurker who lurks, sorry. Got a fever and little energy. emotion_zzz ))

[Calliope Phoenix]

It was probably a good thing that Cara had returned home when she did earlier. With how busy the café had gotten, she would have felt compelled to give a helping hand when Dankin didn’t want the assistance. Good thing that time passed differently between her homeworld and Gaia. She managed to return home before the county clerk’s office closed, and she wasn’t missed for too long after spending only a short amount of time in the café. She made note of the time differences again if only to see if there was a way of working out some kind of travel schedule with her regular duties at home.

The muffled sound of two or maybe three voices yelling at each other could be heard coming from behind the bathroom door. The door itself would shutter as if something had slammed into it, and then things would go quiet. Cara herself would let out a sigh as she made sure the portal was closed and then proceeded to check her makeup and the condition of her outfit in the mirror. If shopkeepers and café owners expected their employees to be classy, then she might as well dress the part.

But not to work at Dankin’s café. His body language and side glances towards her alone expressed how much he didn’t trust her the last time she was in the café. And if he expected her to be able to afford his overpriced -by her homeworld’s standards- decadent treats, then she was going to have to work at an establishment within Gaia where platinum seems to be flowing from the fountains.

Now, it had been a long time since Cara actually had to apply and interview for a job, as most of the jobs she had back home were owned by much of her extended family. But she was certain that with the written accounts from not just her familial employers but some of the customers as well about her professionalism and work ethics would be sufficient, considering it was unlikely that whomever she was applying to would be able to get a hold of these people through normal means.

So, once she felt secure enough that she didn’t look too shabby, Cara emerged from the bathroom. Scanning the room, she gave Dankin a wink, wiggled her fingers ‘Hello’ to Mana, smiled brilliantly and waved enthusiastically to Ara, paused at the sight of two people who brought in their wolfy companions…Woah. Was that a dire wolf? Oh, look! There’s a Natalie! She would get a wave and a smile as well! Oh neat, there are dragons in this world? Hold on now, Cara…take a deep breath. You’re a woman on a mission!

The woman then proceeded to sashay her way towards the exit. She was a woman on a mission, and while it meant that she wouldn’t be physically available to help out with some of the work that needed to be done at home; if she was lucky, then she’d be able to help kickstart the town’s economy again. That would eventually put their name back in good standing and help the town survive the coming changes. With a flick of her thumb, Dankin would hear the sound of a platinum coin ringing in the tip char. Yeah, because Cara's aim was that good. wink

As quickly as she came in through the restroom, Cara was out the main entrance with its jingling bell to explore and make her living from Gaia…

[Mademoiselle Alvinette]

Natalie was happy to see some now-familiar faces back at Dankin's. Ara was there, and Cara even came out of the bathroom wearing a snazzy outfit! Natalie wondered what the girl had on the agenda for today. "Hey there, Cara!" she greeted, smiling warmly. "How are ya?" Turning to Ara, she asked, "And how are you doin'? Been a few days since I've gotten to swing by. What's new?"

Dankin promised Natalie he'd be with her in a moment, and Natalie smiled. "No problem!" she replied. "It gives me a few more minutes to decide what I want for breakfast!" She'd made a point of getting up earlier today just so she could treat herself. She knew she was going to get one box of glazed and one box of assorted for her coworkers, but what to get for herself? The ones she'd gotten last time were pretty darn delicious, but there was also the desire to try something new. Hmm...

In the meantime, there were also a couple of faces she didn't recognize. The young lady with the juvenile dragon made Natalie think of her old friend Leroy and his dragons that he raised. There was also a fella asking Dankin if he was a former adventurer, to which Dankin replied in the affirmative. Natalie wondered what kind of stories Dankin could tell!

[Wolven Bird]

Dankin

"So, how's things on the streets of Barton?", Dankin asked as he produced his steel tongs.

”Barton Town’s been real peaceful lately! Save for a minor incident of graffiti outside the walls. No big deal.”

Alex’s eyes glittered with a hint of mischief. ”Seems everyone’s been wrapped up in the excitement of the Solstice festival. Flint and I have been spendin’ time exploring the dungeons discovered nearby!”

The fluttering koala drew Flint’s attention for a moment, and the great grey wolf took a curious sniff at the creature. He gave a snort, huffing a gust of air in Mana’s direction.

((No problem! It’s been a lotta fun following the thread. Dankin and Mana’s banter cracks me up every time xd ))

Kirana Azadju

Arashisora

Alex beamed at the two citizens who had greeted them. “Hello hello! How’s it going?”

[Dankin]

Cara ver Hold

Dankin watched as Cara began her departure. Giving Mana a friendly wave, she winked at Dankin and headed for the door. Mana blushed.
Dankin was so caught up in his transactions with other cutsomers, that he was torn away from any further pleasantries as his mysterious guest made her exit.
For a brief moment Dankin thought he heard the clatter of a platinum coin falling in the tip jar as he helped another customer.
However, there was little time for him to process this as someone was making him a proposition.

Xwtek

"Anyway, I got a quest about fighting a Kraken. The quest giver insisted me to do that because I defeated a dragon, even though I'm weak against water." I gave the quest paper to him. "Could I partner with you?"

Dankin quickly scanned the quest document.
Sure enough, it was a commission to vanquish some sort of Kraken.

"Hey, nice of you to offer, kid.", Dankin replied flattered, "But I have a café to run these days. Besides, I work alone....well, except for Mana, but he doesn't really count."

Dankin shrugged his shoulders. He did miss the thrill of adventure and the prospect of a heroic reputation. However, he knew that to go back to that lifestyle would come at the cost of his successful business in Barton Town.

Arashisora

Dankin then considered Ara who was sipping coffee nearby.
She seemed to be a creature of some aquatic origin. He was not sure how she would feel about this stranger brandishing about a commission to slay a Kraken.
He hoped nothing drastic would come of the situation.

(( Yeah, I just zonked out and woke up at 5am. Whoops! sweatdrop ))

Xwtek

"I think if you want help with a quest, your best bet is checking out someplace else in Barton Town.", Dankin continued, "Try the guild hall maybe."

Dankin then resumed boxing up the order for two-dozen donuts that Alex had made for themselves and Flint.

"I gotta get back to work, bud.", Dankin said apologetically, "Excuse me!"

Wolven Bird

”Seems everyone’s been wrapped up in the excitement of the Solstice festival. Flint and I have been spendin’ time exploring the dungeons discovered nearby!”

Dankin looked up at Alex and smiled.

"Yeah, people sure are crazy about the Soltice festival these days!", Dankin replied, "Me and Mana even dusted off our gear and checked out those caves!"

Dankin then puffed out his chest and pounded it proudly with one clenched fist.

"Of course, those greaseball monsters were no match for an adventurer like me!", Dankin bragged.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew Dankin's way and Mana went soaring straight into Dankin's face as he was pushed along with the breeze.
Dankin was knocked back as Mana clutched to his face in surprise.

"HEY! GET OFFA ME, FURBALL!" scream , Dankin muffled as he pulled Mana off his face and held him by the scruff of the neck.

"What's gotten into you?!", Dankin barked at Mana.

"Heheh.", Mana giggled, "The big doggy can make nose tornados, koala!"

Dankin released Mana from his grip and looked down toward Flint.
He certainly had a striking presence and no doubt great power, but Dankin believed Mana was frail enough to consider any light gust a tornado.
Shrugging off the recent mishap, Dankin finished boxing up Alex's order.

"Two-dozen glazed donuts...", Dankin laughed sheepishly as he passed the two boxes of donuts to Alex, "That'll be twenty-four platinum!"

Kirana Azadju

It was then that Dankin noticed from the corner of his eye a familiar figure sitting casually in the counter seating section.
It was Kirana Azadju. Or simply "Kira" to her friends.

Dankin was taken aback slightly by her presence. He was not exactly sure if they could even be considered friends.
Frenemy might have been the better classification.
You see, Kira was a beautiful woman and Dankin was a terrible "Tomcat" who flirted with every pretty woman he met.
Because of Kira's strong character and no-nonsense attitude, this had obviously led to some friction between the two in the past.

Nevertheless, Dankin gathered up his bravado and greeted Kirana.
He had been hoping she would visit the café for some time.

"Well well, look who's here!", Dankin uttered coyly, "And what can I do for you today, good lookin'?" wink

Mademoiselle Alvinette

Dankin then noticed Natalie who had been waiting patiently this whole time.
He figured he could take a couple of orders simultaneously.

"Sorry for the wait, hun.", Dankin said playfully, "And what'll it be for you?"



(( Good grief, that took a while to write! Sorry for the wait, people! ))

[Arashisora]

Cara ver Hold

Scanning the room, she -- waved enthusiastically to Ara,

Ara returned Cara's wave, noting the snazzy new attire and giving an equally enthusiastic thumbs-up, as Dankin's former assistant flipped a coin into the register tip jar and strode purposefully out the door. Whether or not Cara understood the meaning behind the gesture would have to be determined later...

Wolven Bird

Alex beamed at the two citizens who had greeted them. “Hello hello! How’s it going?”

Mademoiselle Alvinette

Turning to Ara, she asked, "And how are you doin'? Been a few days since I've gotten to swing by. What's new?"

Ara grinned at Alex and Natalie, "I'd say deadly and dangerous celebrations but, we both know that's nothing 'new' for Gaia."

As Natalie responded to Dankin, Ara noticed how she eyed the doughnut boxes and wondered if a situation similar to her own had brought the classy, busy, lady into the shop today; she seemed intent on buying for a crowd. Ara turned to Alex.

"Things are going well, thanks. The celebrations certainly have drawn a crowd; I haven't seen town this busy since..."

Dankin

Xwtek

Anyway, I got a quest about fighting a Kraken. The quest giver insisted me to do that because I defeated a dragon, even though I'm weak against water." I gave the quest paper to him. "Could I partner with you?"

(( emotion_jawdrop Ooooh, drama... Nice! *tips post*))

Ara trailed off as she overheard one of the newer customers trying to recruit Dankin, who gave her a furtive, quelling, look. She pouted her lips, batting sparkling-blue sea-monster eyes at him as if to say, 'You wound me.'

Why she should be suspected of instigating trouble when she was merely enjoying a quiet cup of coffee and this dragon-slayer was openly plotting the violent slaughter of one of her cousins in the delusion that succeeding would prove his merit or assuage his insecurities, well... Ara wondered if this 'adventurer' would be so bold if Jor, Son of the Leviathan, were still here...

In any case, Dankin's concern was misplaced; they were in town, after all —not out in some dungeon or wilderness. Ara had no desire to risk the uneasy truce by assaulting Dankin's customers, though his reaction did clear up the question of whether his change of profession was morally or monetarily motivated. It turned out money was the great equalizer, after all.

'Fear not, Dankin' Ara thought with a smirk as he thumped his chest before being slapped in the face with fuzzy koala. 'No drastic action will ever take place in this café.'

Kirana Azadju

Predictably, Dankin soon bailed on Alex and the dragon-slayer —either to go flirt with the woman lounging in the corner with her fabulous dragon, or perhaps to warn her not to make a scene, as well. Ara leaned over to glance at the quest document.

"Which Kraken are you after?" She asked the dragon-slayer, cheerfully. "They're not easy targets."

That the dragon-slayer had so boldly announced their campaign in a neutral zone suggested that he either suspected Ara or mistook her for a similar poacher, probably due to the visible sea-monster scales she was sporting.

It wouldn't be an entirely inaccurate assumption; Ara had worn many hats over the years —angelic geisha, 'failed science experiment', sea otter, demon-waiter, and ghost-witch, to name a few— and she had slain her share of monsters, mostly in self-defense, in the process. Briefly, she considered flashing her Heartfire Clan credentials and offering to 'assist' in the quest; clan code dictated that members always lend a hand to those in need, whenever possible, after all. When it came to ensuring everyone survived the assistance, however, the code was less specific...

Ara wondered if the 'adventurers' and 'explorers' of Gaia would still be so keen on monster-slaying if they realized that they were just one cursed amulet or potion away from becoming one themselves?

((Whew! sweatdrop I never really gave much thought to them before I started writing this but, I'm starting to think being a monster on Gaia is a pretty bleak assignment. What have I done?! crying ))

[Mademoiselle Alvinette]

Natalie watched as Cara flipped a coin right into the tip jar--girl had major skills!--and walk out the door. She wondered where Cara was headed off to, and hoped that her new friend had a great day.

She had to chuckle at Ara's comment about dangerous festivals. "Yeah, and I've been so busy at work that I've pretty much had to miss the whole thing!" she commented. "I mean, maybe that's not such a bad thing seein' as how I'm probably easy pickin's, but I don't wanna miss out on the fun stuff!" Granted, she carried a gun and knew how to use it, and even her clothing--which today took the form of a red dress with white polka dots, a sweetheart neckline, short sleeves, and a full skirt that stopped just below her knees--was an alien aggregate that had attached itself to her after she'd been mugged in the wrong place at the wrong time. She had figured out how to work with the strange aggregate and make it look like her favorite outfits, but it could also become a full suit of sleek, head-to-toe armor lickety-split. She wasn't much with hand-to-hand combat, but she was a crack shot and was darn good at knife throwing, so between that and being well-armored, she could take care of herself. The problem was finding time to go enjoy herself! Maybe she and Bogey could go this evening. The agency would want to hear about any and all shenanigans going on at the festival, right? Even if Natalie was just a faithful secretary, she still knew how to observe and report, since that was the kind of espionage work they had her doing for years in addition to office stuff. Sooooo even if the field agents missed something, maybe Natalie could help! Right? Besides, it would be fun to take Bogey and go mingle with other people.


And in the meantime, maybe this place was shaping up to be an extension of the guild hall, based on the brief little snippets of conversation she'd heard between Dankin and a fella who had just snagged a quest to kill a Kraken. And somehow Ara seemed to look ever so slightly less than happy about that, though she disguised it well. Natalie didn't miss that glance between Ara and Dankin either. Hm.

For her own part, Natalie wasn't sure how she should feel about monster hunters. She knew they had their place, just like everyone else did, but she couldn't help thinking that some of them got a little over-zealous in their killing. Especially a certain creepy vampire-hunter fella she knew. Thank goodness he finally found new narcissistic supply and left her alone for the most part, but not before a lot of abuse and gaslighting and trying to murder her friends in front of her just because they were "monsters." But as much as she hated to admit it, sometimes the jerk had a point. Even a stopped clock was right twice a day, and, well, sometimes there were vampires, or werewolves, or what have you, who did go out of control. Goodness knew Natalie had been attacked enough, and usually because her blood actually attracted them. And there couldn't always be an officer of the Gaia Paranormal Agency there right away to keep the peace. Sometimes a good hunter was needed. But what she didn't like was the kind of hunter who shot first and asked questions never. There just really didn't seem to be any excuse for that. Heck, she had two cousins who were bona-fide demon hunters, and even they actually INVESTIGATED and took things on a case-by-case basis, for cryin' out loud!

Just then Dankin brought Natalie out of her reverie that had become an internal rant. "Oh!" she exclaimed, beaming. "Let's see. Can I get a Choco-Tastic Cream Donut and a mocha for here? I'd also like a dozen glazed and a dozen assorted to go. Got a few coworkers who'll be happy to have somethin' to munch on during coffee breaks!"

She turned to the Barton Regular and the wolf, grinning. "My dog looks just like a teeny version of that when he's starin' at treats he wants! I'm Natalie, by the way."

((Edited! Also, I had to tip Ara because: "No drastic action will ever take place in this café." rofl We all know that's a jinx. Crazy shenanigans are GUARANTEED now! And I am here for it. emotion_dowant ))

[Kirana Azadju]

Arashisora

The room was filled with such interesting folks – not a rare sight on Gaia. Out of the corner of her eyes, Kira glanced towards a woman that looked quite elegant and otherworldy, her attire covered in shimmering scales. They reflected the dim afternoon sunlight that was streaming in through the window, making thousands of tiny rainbow sparkles dance across the walls. Kira couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the beauty, wondering all the while, what species this curious person might be.

Xwtek

Mademoiselle Alvinette

Studying the menu was only a deceptive move now, to make it seem Kira wasn’t much interested in anyone of the guests as to avoid unneccessary attention – her dragon pet alone usually had that effect. But it seemed to work. The guy covered in red stripes that looked like a sort of tribal tattoo had not noticed her at all – good! And the other lady in a cute, dotted petticoat was busy chatting with Alex. Maybe Kira would join them later but first things first.

Dankin

"Well well, look who's here!", Dankin uttered coyly, "And what can I do for you today, good lookin'?" wink

Kira looked up from the menu, an unmistakable beguiling gleam in her eye, but the smile she gave Dankin was warm and sincere.

„Hey, handsome! Seems like your Café is doing well!“

She gave him a quick look up and down. The apron was a strange contradiction to the rest of his appearance. She chuckled.

„I’d like a small coffee with milk, a simple chocolate donut, and five minutes of your time, please- if you can spare some for me, that is!“

At the sound of that Coal’s head popped out from where he had tucked it away under his wing, now curiously sniffing the air above the counter, his claws reaching for the wooden surface. He bared his fangs, giving an excited chirp, and wiggled his spiky tail around impatiently, so that Kira had to scoop him up with one arm to keep him in place.

„Yeah, better make that two donuts!“ she chuckled again, looking at her dragon with doting eyes.

[Dankin]

Mademoiselle Alvinette

Just then Dankin brought Natalie out of her reverie that had become an internal rant. "Oh!" she exclaimed, beaming. "Let's see. Can I get a Choco-Tastic Cream Donut and a mocha for here? I'd also like a dozen glazed and a dozen assorted to go. Got a few coworkers who'll be happy to have somethin' to munch on during coffee breaks!"

"Comin' up, dollface!" wink , Dankin called back cheerily.

Dankin then began preparing a hot cup of Mocha coffee. He then turned to Mana.

"Mana, start boxing up a dozen glazed and a dozen mixed donuts pronto!", Dankin barked.

"Roger, koala!", Mana squeeked in reply as he scurried to prepare two fresh boxes.

As Mana struggled to assemble the cardboard boxes with his insufficient paws, Dankin quickly went about preparing the coffee before reaching into the display case and plating one Choco-tastic donut for Natalie.

Seeing that Mana was making no progress, Dankin snatched the unmade boxes from the koala, hastily assembled them and then carefully boxed up yet another order of two-dozen donuts.
Business was being good as of late, he thought to himself.

Bringing the order to the counter, Dankin stacked the two boxes to one side and gingerly presented Natalie's coffee and donut to her.

"That'll be...twenty-six platinum in your own time, please.", Dankin said with a friendly smile.

Kirana Azadju

Dankin then quickly turned to where Kirana was still sitting.
She responded to his flirtatious greeting in kind with her own brand of sultry pleasantries.
For a moment, Dankin's face flushed red in excitement.
She also complimented him on the recent success of his café.

"She must want something if she's being so nice....", Dankin worried to himself suspiciously.

"Oh yeah, things are going pretty good at the moment.", Dankin said with a nervous chuckle, "Let's hope it stays that way!" sweatdrop

After the brief exchange, Kira made her order accompanied by a request.

Kirana Azadju

„I’d like a small coffee with milk, a simple chocolate donut, and five minutes of your time, please- if you can spare some for me, that is!“

Dankin was taken aback, now curious of what exactly this propostion could possibly be.
Stranger still was that Dankin had wanted to speak to her for a moment as well.
This was becoming all too convenient for Dankin's liking.
Nevertheless, he retained his composure and played his act of bravado in response to Kira's request.

"Hey, anything for you, beautiful!", Dankin said with a coy smirk as he set to work plating two more donuts.

Mana fluttered over curiously towards Kira and Coal. He examined the small dragon carefully, the pom-pom on his head swaying all the while.

"Oooohh, cute tough dragon, koala!", Mana chirped at Kira in excitement.

While this was happening, Dankin had finished plating the donuts and had brewed a small cup of coffee for Kira. On the tray he placed a small jug of milk for Kira to add to her coffee at her discretion.
Lifting the tray, Dankin walked the short distance over to where Kira and Coal were sitting.

"Here we are!", Dankin said as he layed down the tray in front of the beautiful dragoness.

"Now about those fives minutes...." , Dankin enquired playfully, "....you know you need a lifetime of Dankin to be fully satisfied, baby!" wink

Arashisora

(( I wasn't saying you'd cause trouble, Ara! I was just worried that all the talk of Kraken slaying would make you uncomfortable. xd ))

[Arashisora]

Dankin

(( I wasn't saying you'd cause trouble, Ara! I was just worried that all the talk of Kraken slaying would make you uncomfortable. xd ))

((Sure, sure... wink There wasn't much for me to react to in your previous post —so, I opted to build a mountain out of that 'greaseball monster' molehill! 4laugh Although I'm referencing my own Gaia experiences pretty heavily for this particular OC, I am less feisty sea-monster, more 'fish outta water'. And, I enjoy having something for my character to play off of... Ty for your concern, though!))

[Arashisora]

Xwtek

((Even being human is also a bleak assignment. We're at the mercy of goddesses and fairies. Also, even Kraken actively hunts humans and eats them. For every one Kraken killed, dozens or hundreds of humans has been eaten by Kraken. It's just a fact of life.))

((That's true. Humans on Gaia are subjected to some pretty extreme calamities. I guess I've become desensitized to that over the years. 3nodding ))

Ara managed to listen impassively as the dragon-slayer explained his quest. But, it took effort.

Xwtek

"Oh, I'm fighting the Kraken at sea north of Gambino island. That sea is used to be krakenless, but suddenly fishermen spotted lots of Kraken. The Kraken eat lots of fish there, destroying the ecosystem, and sank dozens of ships. It's also feared that the Kraken may move southwards towards Burton port."

"Oh! Kraken in the sea eating fish!" Ara put a hand to her head in feigned relief. "For a moment, you had me worried they had begun voyaging onto land to plunder all the coconuts, or some equally unnatural business."

Ara grinned, brightly, "In that case, the solution to your quest is simple." Turning her palm up as if delivering the answer on an invisible serving tray, she continued.

"Convince Gambino's corporations to abandon their sea research and the kraken will return to their original breeding grounds —I mean, who wants an audience of scientists killing the mood, am I right? Not everyone's into that sort of thing!— When the kraken return to their preferred grottos, they'll no longer be crossing paths with port fishing boats hauling hundreds of thousands of fish daily. Fewer free buffets will mean fewer surviving infirm and infant kraken to worry about."

These 'quests' were never really as complicated as humans made them out to be. Monsters generally killed for two reasons —to eat and to defend their territory. If a monster suddenly beset an unsuspecting town, generally an ecological cause was at fault. Perhaps, it had been forced to seek new hunting grounds by a younger, stronger, monster. Or, some blight among its preferred prey made it turn to unpalatable humans to ward off starvation. Left to their own, monsters mostly stayed in their lane, unlike humans who felt every environment meant to kill them was theirs by rights.

Kirana Azadju

Out of the corner of her eyes, Kira glanced towards a woman that looked quite elegant and otherworldy, her attire covered in shimmering scales. They reflected the dim afternoon sunlight that was streaming in through the window, making thousands of tiny rainbow sparkles dance across the walls. Kira couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the beauty, wondering all the while, what species this curious person might be.

((That description! emotion_kirakira ))

As she offered these helpful suggestions to the dragon-slayer, Ara sighted the alluring woman with the adorably fidgety dragon, peering over a menu at her and felt a twinge of apprehension. Was something wrong with her disguise? Was this not enough like a 'normal human'?

Mademoiselle Alvinette

"Yeah, and I've been so busy at work that I've pretty much had to miss the whole thing!" she commented. "I mean, maybe that's not such a bad thing seein' as how I'm probably easy pickin's, but I don't wanna miss out on the fun stuff!"

Ara nodded, knowingly, picking up the conversation again to calm her nerves. "It's a real grind. But, if you find the time, there is this nightclub under a badass tree, east of town. I guess it's a little exclusive though, since you have to get past two entire floors of slimy bouncers to get to it."

Townies didn't build to welcome monsters and monsters didn't build to welcome townies, either. 'Mutually-assured discouragement', Ara thought. Though, somehow, she didn't believe Natalie was easy-enough 'pickin's' to be kept out entirely; walking through scourge after Gaian scourge still looking that put-together took skills.

"Talk to Gino, if they give you trouble; he'll give you the green light." Ara assured her. However, Natalie's thoughts seemed elsewhere.

Dankin

"Comin' up, dollface!" , Dankin called back cheerily.

'Fifty kraken quest certificates would make for easier listening than this,' Ara thought, shaking her head as Dankin returned to take Natalie's order. Poor, sweet, little Mana was trying his best with the boxes and, for a moment, Ara wished Cara were still around...

Dankin finished the bulk order and handed the individual treats to Natalie before peeling away to serve the dragon lady.

Mademoiselle Alvinette

"Got a few coworkers who'll be happy to have somethin' to munch on during coffee breaks!"

Coworkers... coffee... Oh, no! Ara stood abruptly.

"Dankin! Mana!" She called, slapping platinum on the counter, "I'm really sorry but, I need to carry a whole lot more than four coffees at once. I'm not especially particular as to how you make that happen; I just need it quick!"

((Feel free to write my exit. I'm out for Friday, as usual. Thanks everyone! heart ))