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(ROLLING!)

She let Lifen go back to the side of Mengyao mostly because she had the feeling that her Cousin was going to do something idiotic sooner or later if she didn't. Yuzhi had already forgiven her Cousin for upsetting her - he was family, "Tell Idiot Cousin that I am sorry for my outburst. I know he is doing his best," Yuzhi said as she gave her friend a brief smile a little more relaxed than earlier as she let her go. Yes. They would be alright. Everything would be alright.

Her ears caught the tone of someone saying the word 'Imp' and her head tilted toward the War Horseman that was speaking it her expression unreadable for the moment mostly because she wasn't certain how to feel about this particular 'nickname'. It implied her stature was short, which it was, but it didn't have that insulting connotation she connected to most other nicknames she got.

Simply she moved back to her pile of things and she then gave the War Horseman a cheeky grin, "Imps have ears, you know. Perhaps you did not see that from your great height, Giant."

He was still experimentally crumpling the bark in his hand when he felt a hand on his arm, tugging him away. Mengyao turned his head, catching sight of the dark head of hair, the unhappy expression on Lifen's face. She was looking at him with a hard gaze, almost challenging - but he would not challenge her. Not today, not here, not now. If it had been anyone else other than Lifen - or Lan, for that matter - Mengyao would have brushed them off with a smirk and a wave of his fan, completely uncaring.

Unfortunately he could not do that with Lifen - not that he really wanted to anyway. She was his closest friend, along with Lan, and there was a definite part of him that could not tell her no.

A pathetic part. Mengyao sighed. His gaze flickered back towards Yuzhi, already moving on, towards a male horseman he did not recognize, and Mengyao's expression shifted, just for a brief moment.

But then it was back to that same irritating smile.

"This?" he said, in a slightly sharper tone of voice than he intended, and he sighed a little again, shaking his head in a silent apology that went unspoken. When he spoke again, his voice was light, teasing. "Am I just an object now, or are you referring to the tree over there? I do hope it's the latter, rather than the former."


[ exiting ]

"You'd think, but precious isn't cooperating. I can only give so much without getting something back, Fai." Meaning, he'd put off having fresh salad in favour of getting bitten for much too long; and he hated fresh salads. B| He'd take Mahir's shadow arms over Faiyum's plant hair any day. Twice.

"Of course." Mengyao's reply, while as mocking and sarcastic as the one he had been given moments prior, was met with an ever-sweet, fox-eyed smile. He was being honest, and he was concerned about the man's wellbeing, mostly because once the help was gone, he'd be left with nothing; it would be a shame for their already decimated clan to become even smaller, after all.

Besides, he got what he wanted; Mengyao was pulling bark off of a tree; a step up from doing nothing.

"Goodbye, Mengyao, I hope we meet again~" The Sage drawled as the Conquest Noble seemed to leave with one of the pretty females; besides, his collection of things was nearing the point of no return, where he wouldn't be able to carry any more. If the lazy one didn't return by the time he left, well, that would be unfortunate.

"The trees? A good place to come from." Sal mused, looking up at the abyssmal canopy above them and happy to have the newcomer - Shikoba - as a distraction. Clearly, this Horseman was from War; however the job class escaped him...perhaps that would be something to ask later. A pure white brow perked curiously at the mention of an Imp, but the dots didn't connect until adorable little Yuzhi piped up. "Ah, you mean the Little~" He hummed, mostly to himself. "I find her adorable; it's a pity she seems so deeply rooted in Conquest." The pale one lamented, once more cradling a blood stained cheek on an equally bloodstained hand. The tragic loss of someone he would have loved adopting. At least she'd be a step up from his usual company; mostly, Fai. He adored Fai, they had been friends since they were little, but sometimes it seemed the planted alchemist loved to try to get under his skin more than his plants. Sometimes.

"Hello there~" He greeted to the newest member of the Scavenging group with a little cough, currently down on boney knee to pick up some minipet ribs and femurs.

The forest muffled the sound of approaching hoof-beats, but it did little to soften the lone voice that called out. "Fai? Faiiii! Fai! Can you hear me?" It does not take long for the owner of the voice to appear. It was a War clanswoman: her broad red horse and black-and-white wings made it obvious. Her black hair was swept back into a ponytail, the feathers tucked into it worn and frayed. There was a frantic look to her yellow-lit eyes made all the brighter by the dark red war paint that was used freely upon her skin.

"Fai? Fai!" She called before reigning to a stop, looking towards the nearest horseman. "Excuse me!" She called, "Have you seen Fai?"

Unfortunately for the other horsemen that she had been speaking too, Nirva had gotten lost in her thoughts again. For a moment anyone watching her would notice a small smile creak up at the corner of her lips. Faint and distant as she seemed to look away. Eventualy the smile faltered and her head dipped down listening to the reality that the Sage Sal spoke of.

"Yes... a new home..." She stepped away from the others moving to the dead hollowed tree. She carried no axe but it didn't bother her. Reaching behind her wings she drew forth a pair of twin axes, curved and sharpened to a tip with runes that named them Life and Death she moved to the tree hacking the hollow dead wood into more manageable pieces.

Moving through the group of horsemen she dumped the wood into the pile of gathered materials before spotting another stone slab. She moved easily to slip her fingers under and flip the stone to the side moving it along as well.

(sorry didn't get to this sooner. other tags + class)

Faiyum was it? A curious one what with plants. Lan loved them but not enough to bond with one in such a manner. While Mengyao didn't take her bait, (she would have to try harder), But from the other girls reaction and his own, he seemed a bit upset. He touched bark and did work after all. It was almost frightening to think of him working.
Mostly, as she didn't think he enjoyed it.

The girls seemed to be alight, and Lan was trying to to butt in but... Gossip, how it sang to her. It had the makings of a good story and while no longer 'at court' gossip could go around camps. or Lairs. When Mengyao left it only had Lan more curious.

It was the Tseng's words that had her laughing however. "I do not think he can be scared. More likely he is upset. Or he wants to get out of work, both I would not put past him." Smiling she bowed. "Lan and, are you a cousin I have never had the fortune to meet? We have far to many uncles really..." And cousins. And second cousins. It was a rather large family after all. "You and the other girl have been acting familiar yet she does not carry the horns." A sudden blush. "I do not mean to pry it's just...nice to see that some families have not been torn apart, however distant."
As her makini again showed her something as was waved towards the pile.