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'Low' alcohol, in this case, meant a large mug of strong ale for Kechiri rather than the same tankard of rum or other hard spirits. Her sister had gone in for fresh fruit juice rather than the fermented sort. While their parents clearly didn't much mind exposure to alcohol, Daanu had tried it only once. Her cousin's name had been written in and crossed out of her black book of grudges since, his trick on her since repaid.* She still didn't understand why people liked the stuff.

But that was okay. There were still many things little Daanu didn't understand. Currently, she was scribbling away in her big book, writing down everything she saw or heard. To Kechi, it might seem a familiar state. She'd been seen doing the same in a meadow, or up in a tree. Once or twice above a creature pen. A bar was just one more unfamiliar environment to catalogue. Big yellow eyes glanced up after punctuating a sentence, returning to her seagoing sibling. "Alright. How have you been, big sister?"

(With interest. She'd salted his morning tea at breakfast next.)

The reed pen stopped it's scratching, soon sheathing into a pocket on her belt. Clever little thing, her sneaky uncle's design. "Notes. I have not been here before, and I like knowing what I first thought of a new thing. Some of the games look interesting." She passed the heavy book across the table, letting Kechi peruse it as she wished. Big sister would find observations, some somewhat rough sketches, some extrapolation following each neat section. Daanu often did this when she found a new big, or a beast she'd never seen before. Apparently, it seemed appropriate to do the same for sufficiently new situations.

Serious little girl that she was, the younger sister only nodded. "So I see. You look happier now that you are out at sea more often. Feel lighter to be around. I am glad of this." She looked down, patted the book and finally smiled. Papa got me to thinking, and I have taken to writing down my thoughts. It helps when I cannot remember something."

While true, a compliment brought a little smile to Kechi's sister in a way unexpected. The little blue hybrid looked around, checking again for anyone else that might be listening. Then, leaning in, she cupped one hand beside her mouth and whispered. "I had to ask Uncle Viltre how to stop spelling 'recommendation'."

"Would you please? I have seen you play some when you think I am not looking, and they look fun. I would need to borrow one of yours, though." Daanu had not brought one of her own, as Papa and Mama had differing opinions on steel in children's hands.* One held that it was to be earned, and they were trying so hard to avoid spats right about now. She had something pointy anyway, and had gone with Kechi besides. Nobody smart would try anything around Kechi.**

*(Specifically Daanu and Iorhel. One might cut someone she didn't mean to, and the other might leave a dead body somewhere. There were differing opinions on which was which.)
**(Of course, that did not preclude the stupid, natural or afflicted. In present company, this applied most keenly to those persons nearby increasingly befuddled with drink.)

"We may have to ask Auntie Ein and Var if we can borrow him first. They might object if we do not." She took the pretty little thing, examining every shiny angle of her sister's blade. The smaller girl did not attempt to make it dance between her fingers. She still hadn't mastered doing that with a pen just yet; trying with sharp things would only lead to more colorful (and potentially shorter) fingers. She knew not to fool around with pointy things.

That said, Kechiri's sister had only a limited knowledge of weaponry to begin with. So to start, Daanu tried the only grip she knew for a knife: the eating grip. Had to twist the wrist around a little to get the point down, and overall the motion was awkward when she tried her first row. The frown came home to her pale face, settling as it often did between spiky brows. This was not quite right. The little girl looked back up to her sister, stopping her own blade until she might safely look again.

Under some instruction, the smaller of the Ninyelt had swapped to a hammer grip, point down, just as her elder shew'd. Fingers wiggled about the shiny hilt, getting a feel for it first, finding the comfiest place for each, and tightened down. Again, much more easily this time, she began to hop the knifepoint over each knuckle.

As she did, the blue girl kept thinking. She hadn't considered the possibility of getting on either aunt's bad side. The thing about Auntie Ein 's smile was that it had no ulterior facets. It seldom dropped, mostly brightened or dimmed throughout the day. She didn't have the fierce grin or sharp smirk of her mates, and it felt good to see it on Kechiri's face.

Of course, shiny presents felt good, too. Especially surprise ones. Daanu's knowing eyes went wide with it, and the blade nearly missed a pass, just scratching the top layer of skin. "...! Thank you!" She might have leapt up on the table there and then, but Mama had insisted on table manners. One (1) hug for Kechi when I get up.

More pretty knives? The thought crossed her mind unbidden, and the younger sibling considered juggling them all. No, no that would be silly. Tho' she might well ask an uncle or a cousin for tips on bettering her coordination...? The question broke her concentration, and again, another little scratch. Blue fingers came up, letting their owner suck at the wound a moment, and laid back onto the table. The blade in hand slowed, going more deliberately afterwards.

"What do you mean? Is this about his behind-friends?" A moments pause, and little Daanu's smile cracked a little wider in realization. Even to so serious a child, butt jokes were the peak of humor. Kechi has asked her a question, tho'', so butts could wait. Giggles were stifled before she continued. Mostly. "Underneath-friends, I mean. They know the whole world was once ocean, so they still swim all over. You cannot see them?"

Her new knife went slowly now, bereft of the main part of Daanu's attention. Right now it was building the beginnings to muscle memory. "They are from this world, do not worry. And they like him. They listen. Why would their being friendly come as a bad thing?" Daanu had begun to doubt her sister saw the same things as she did. The underneath-creatures needed something to touch as they wished. Ushiruin always said something quiet when they did. Maybe an invitation?

Again, people wondering why she was smart. It wasn't obvious? She needed to talk to 'Saei about this sort of thing. He knew what seeing things no one else did was like, he might know a better way to explain. ...Or he might wiggle his arms and try nonsensical gestures to illustrate. Either would be acceptable.
But Kechi needed an answer. "I watch things. I have been writing things down. I think they understand people-speech, or they can learn. It may also be that they like his voice."