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Dreadpirate was travelling between sections when his pocket menu thing starts beeping. There's a flashing icon that says he has a new message. He frowns, then shrugs. He hadn't seen that feature before - maybe he needed to take some time to check all the functions on the completely-not-a-mobile-phone-nobody-sue device.

A message from RazerHead. He's surprised. He hasn't got anything pressing on right now, and he hasn't spent any real time in the tavern yet. It won't hurt to relax for a while.

< To RazerHead: Sure, I'll head over. See you shortly. >

As he makes his way to the tavern, he reminds himself that Raze is a civilian. He'll have to watch his tongue, make sure that no Hunter or monster talk slips out that doesn't relate to the dream-game.

It isn't hard to spot the feathered hat when he walks in. He hasn't seen many other Gryphons in the game, actually, not compared to a class like Cheshire Cats. Maybe the dream-game is loaded with Gryphons and their paths just haven't crossed yet... but right now in the tavern, they have the only two feathered pirate hats.

"Hello, Raze," he says before taking a seat. "How's the game been treating you?"

"Weird is the running theme," he agrees. That and soul-sucking. So many areas of illusions drawing out memories of the past he'd prefer not to deal with. It's tiring. Though all the battles can't have helped.

"Yeah, I've done a handful of the mob fights. And then went through the dungeons with some groups. They can be tough, but there's some good experience and loot in there." It's also good to spend some time around other people. Being alone for too long in this place will just make people crazy. Or crazier, in some cases.

"I see you found a friend," he nods to the Lupia. None of his minipets are summoned right now, but he's finding them useful.

"I'd offer to help with the dungeons, but it won't let you in with mixed faction party members," he says with regret. The icon next to her name in his Friendslist is red, and he suspects she'll see a white cage next to his on her own player card menu device. "They're worth doing, though."

He hasn't used the Lupia in battle yet, but grimaces to hear that Raze's has been licking her wounds to heal them. "I mostly use the March Hare," he offers, "but I picked up another one recently that has better attack stats. Otokoyo?" He sounds the name out.

Minor mistake, as the pet in question appears, wagging multiple tails. He jerks, then sighs. "Dismissed." It doesn't look bothered by the accidental summoning or being sent back so quickly.

"I'm still getting used to all these voice commands." He runs a hand through his bangs. "The Lake? Oh, with the trippy fog." That was the best way he could describe it without talking about magic or supernatural things or how they all might be connected to machines right now that could poke and prod certain areas of the brain. "If you didn't like that, don't go see the Caterpillar. His smoke is worse."

The latest main quest... He shudders. "Yeah, just came from being the Jabberwocky's lunch. Took a few tries, but the EXP and loot were good. If you're after experience, it's good - doesn't rely on your level to win. Endless Forest gives great experience, too."

Even if it had taken him forever to solve the puzzle at the end.

He guesses the reason for her 'that sucks' is similar to his own initial reaction. "I didn't know anyone from my faction, either. The first time I was just doing recon and someone invited me into their party. For the second dungeon, I left an invitation here in the tavern."

Either people were really friendly here or everyone was in the same boat, not knowing many people.

"Was it that you got literally lost in the forest, or stumped by the puzzle at the end?" Personally, he'd had no problems following the signs, but puzzles were not his thing. He'd been surprised to find the correct answer.

He had his suspicions about how their memories were being accessed, but didn't think a civilian would believe him. Or understand how he got that knowledge without having to talk about being a Hunter and pods and golems and... yeah. Let's not have someone try to commit him inside a dream-game.

"It's very creepy," he agrees. It is. "I'll lodge a complaint to the makers after we finish."

Davey nods. He doesn't like puzzles. Or riddles, either. He grimaces at the memory of the Cheshire Cat's quest. "I prefer the quests for things I can hit," he says. They're much easier.

He orders from the menu - everything has strange names, cocktails or shots of some kind named after the NPCs or character classes. For the sake of being consistent, he orders the 'gryphon' shot. It looks fairly standard, unlike some of the others.

"I wonder if it's even possible to get drunk," he wonders. Quickly, he adds, "Not that I want to test that out, but considering the mechanics of it being a game..." And a dream. He isn't sure how much Raze has worked out about where she is or how she got here, but if she only thinks it's a dream, in her dream the other players would only think it was a game... See how confusing this gets? This is why he prefers to attack things.

He chuckles at the idea of feedback after this. Not that there aren't things he would like to say to his bosses - if they are the ones behind this - but he wouldn't actually dare. Things could always be worse at Deus HQ, no matter how bad they already seem. And there's an equally good chance that this is supernatural in origin and the Hunters have just been called in to protect civilians like Raze.

"I'd like to know whose name I should be cursing," is all he has to add in the end.

When his drink arrives, he takes a mouthful. He sets it down and regards it carefully. That actually tastes very much like scotch. Bad scotch, but still incredible accurate. "How's yours taste?" he asks Raze. "That's closer to the real thing than I was expecting."

"Did I say it strangely?" Dreadpirate thinks back and frowns. "Who to swear at, or curse to hell, or whatever. I like to know who to blame for things."

Because Dr H was a fantastic fallback target (and chances were high he was at least slightly involved in anything that went wrong for any Hunter, but especially for Davey) but he liked to be sure. And if there were people out there who could do this without the Division Leaders being aware? Then he really needed to know. They all did.

"So you've said before that you're not normally a gamer, you like outside activities." He won't ask what she's doing playing this one, then, because for all she knows this is a weird dream. "What do you normally do, then?"

He keeps his face as straight as possible, but there's still an odd gleam in his eye as he asks, "Ever been hunting?"

"I think you mean--" he begins and then pauses. "Nevermind. Yeah, you might be right. There are so many language differences even if we're speaking the same language. Even within the same country." As far as he knows, the soda/pop debate is a mostly American one.

He'd wondered if the mention of hunting would trigger a memory, but it seems not. He supposes if she is in the pods right now, then she won't be allowed to remember certain things - on the island, he hadn't remembered a thing about himself, let alone being recruited by the Hunters.

"Sometimes," he hedges. "I'm not a big fan of hunting innocent animals for sport. Only if someone's in danger."

He chuckles at the wild chickens.

"So what sorts of extreme sports do you like?"