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The Merchant, Almadel, had offered to answer Scylla's questions, and lord knew the senshi had any number of them at any given point in time. There was so much out there, however, that frankly the dark haired woman hadn’t known where to start. He had been particularly antsy about naming any of the planets that he had been to, and he had also been able to return to the Senshi one of the missing funerary urns of a previous Scylla. At some point, someone had ransacked the most sacred room in her homeworld; she had known it, but she couldn’t have known when. And Andromache’s memories were so often locked to her, it could have been missing even before Chaos had eaten the planet. There had always been war on Scylla, even during her last life. Whether it was a War Bringer from a world beyond, whether it was one of the uppity Kings, or even the fauna of the planet itself, peace was something that the world of Scylla had rarely known. Now, at least, the urn was safely locked away in a hidden drawer in one of Jada’s closet, awaiting the successor’s chance to restore it to its rightful place in the crypts underneath the White Temple.

It was two nights, now, after she had visited Almadel; she gave the night in-between so that she could try and compile a collection of foods that the merchant would need to try. Which meant she had gone on one heck of a shopping spree. She had also invested in a small and inexpensive (to her, anyways) solar-powered mini fridge, so that the alien would be able to keep the leftovers from the feast she would be delivering tonight. It was the kind of thing she should have bought for Caedus, who had been trapped on their planet, rather than for Alma, but… well. Hindsight was 20 20, as they said. Maybe next time… If there was a next time. Caedus had never said when he would return, and he aged very differently than a human.

If it wasn’t for the glories of the wheel, Scylla would likely have had trouble carrying everything that she approached the barrier with tonight. But trailing behind her was a wagon, carrying a fully stocked and pre-powered mini fridge, filled with gelato, some soda options, bottles of flavored iced coffees, ice chips, and some finger sandwiches that needed to be kept chilled, pudding, custards, and fresh watermelon chunks, pineapple chunks, and berries... And in bags, piled around the small wagon, there was still more. Cookie samplers, pieces of cakes, scones, croissants, some brownie flavors, some breads and other desserts from local bakeries. Apples, oranges, bananas, kiwi, dragonfruit. Mochi! Because Scylla was addicted to mochi, mostly, but also because why not? Then there were the ‘hot’ foods, carefully packed and sealed in bags designed to help keep hot foods fresh-

To keep a long story short, even the wagon was draggin’ as the Senshi of the Kraken lugged her way up to the watery barrier that kept Alma and his wares safe from prying eyes. This time she bore no wisp, so there was momentary concern that she would not be able to pass, as the one time before she successfully had, she had been bearing something he wanted- and yet she lifted her hand to touch the outside of the barrier anyway and pushed her way through it carefully, calling out a hello as she tried to enter, wondering if she would go through to the other side as she had before, or if she would be greeted by the ‘Worlds’ traveler.

"Alma, darling." Scylla tossed back to the horned alien, aiming a bright smile in his direction as she finished lugging the wagon in. He seemed to perk up, so she hauled the wagon of treats to him, breathing a sigh of relief as she finally dropped the 'lead' to the ground. "I thought since I didn't know just how long you would be here I would try and make sure you were well-stocked with snacks as quickly as possible."

His query about the wisp was met with a shake of the head. "No wisp this time, I'm sorry. The only trades I have to offer this time are of the calorie-filled variety." taking a look at the table, she began placing a few small things on empty spaces near him.

"I brought you a little something to help your leftovers keep, so you can snack safely over the next few days." she gestured to the extra-large fridge. "It's solar powered, so you won't need to worry about using any specific technology or hooking up to a power source. It will keep the things inside it cold, so they don't go bad and lose flavor. You'll just need to make sure it sees some sunlight so it can recharge as needed. Feel free to take a look while I lay out a few of the other things I brought."

There was even little travel silverware she pulled out of her bag of goodies- one couldn't really eat ice cream and gelato with a plastic spoon, and this set was washable and reusable, with a spoon, fork, and knife. Best part? It was recycled metals, and came in a cute little tin, even had a washable silicon straw! While Alma may be less delighted about that, Scylla herself just thought it was really cool.

"How are you doing? Made lots of trades?" she nodded her head to the seemingly 'refreshed' inventory.

Ah! Flattery. Scylla didn't bother to hide her delight at being called treat enough, kind, thoughtful, or even the phrase something as lovely as you. It was a testament to her personality, probably, rather than her acreage; and when was the last time she'd received such compliments from someone over the age of 11? "You promised you would tell me stories, and I said I would bring the snacks." the senshi reminded him cheerfully, before purple eyes caught on movement and Scylla perked with interest as the tail twitched with excitement. "I always try and keep my ends of the bargain, and I believe I did say I'd find you some gelato." She opened the small fridge and gestured happily. "Pick your flavor, my friend."

That tail made her think of a cat. It didn't escape her, however, that here in front of her was a man with horns and a forked tail who liked to make trades; it briefly crossed her mind to wonder just exactly how old the Merchant was. And if he had visited Asia around 1900 years ago. Yeah, he might not wear red tights and carry a pitchfork, but things did tend to get exaggerated over time.

"I'll keep out an eye for more wisps for you," Scylla promised with a smile, "I'm sure you'll have them all back soon." She finished setting out the rest of the formerly-bagged food, and placed the silverware set in front of Almadel. "In the meantime we will keep your spirits, and your energy, up in grand human tradition."

She leaned against the fridge she had brought, using it to support her weight. "Since I became a senshi I've been more and more curious about the worlds out there. When I was a child I thought there would be tons of 'aliens', and they just... didn't want anything to do with us because they saw what we did to Earth. Then I became aware of Chaos, and heard that we were just... alone. But we're not. There are... Mauvians, and you, and there was Caedus, and so much weird magical phenomena has happened..." her voice trailed off and her leg kicked.

Asking him to confirm his own existence was a little foolish. Asking 'we're not alone, right?' was denying proof right in front of her.

"So tell me about you!" Scylla clasped her hands together, beaming. "Are there many more of your people around? I would assume Earth English isn't your native language."

A man - an alien?- of good taste, Scylla noted as Alma grabbed the dark chocolate gelato and-- didn't inhale it! He savored it! Oh, and the compliment. Well! That just made the senshi of the Kraken dimple with delight. "Well you would be a historian's dream," she said dryly, propping her chin on a hand and watching her host indulge, "that many languages and so many variations of just one of them, I can already hear the wild variety of questions you must get. If you really want to find your wisps quickly, offer scrolls from the Library of Alexandria, or to tell them if the ancient Egyptians were really aliens."

The universe is a very big place. Wasn't it just? Thinking of the night sky, all those stars and the spaces in-between... "I envy your freedom." Scylla hadn't meant to let it slip out, but it had. "Not your lack of company, but your ability to just- go. And explore. When you've the ability to go and-" she gestured to the variety of artifacts Almadel had sitting out for potential customers- "Seek."

At his gesture, Scylla reached out to snag a box, opening to expose the cannoli inside. "One of my favorite little places. They are this little hole-in-the-wall that looks like you'd get food poisoning, but they make some of the best desserts. And food. But especially the desserts." She had a sweet tooth, and no shame.

"As for the things I'd like to know- Well, I'd like to start by knowing fifteen other languages." Scylla said it with a twinkle in her eye. "I know around four earth languages that I can ask for directions to the bathroom in, and around six that I can ask if they speak English, which are six relatively useless phrases, and-" leaning forward, eyes glittering with humor, she said, "I can insult people in an alien language." she took a bite of her cannoli, chewing thoughtfully. "I can also be mannerly, but if I ever get abducted by aliens I know exactly what to call them."

There were just so many questions she had! And the universe was, as Alma had pointed out, a large place. "I'm assuming there's not a lot of galactic gossip, since you said you don't meet up with people a lot. I've sort of always assumed... until Caedus, I thought that everything had been eaten, gobbled up by the Negaverse. Of course, he was apparently from pre-gobbling times, but- he's an alien too, by the way- but it's actually kind of... nice. To know there are still people out there to be bumped into."

Maybe they wouldn't all be allies. Maybe they weren't even humanoid. Maybe they had only slipped through the cracks of their world's destruction. But... maybe, if they came to Earth, there would be a chance to help keep it from meeting the same fate as other worlds had, in centuries past.

"So, would you rather tell me stories about awkward baby Almadel, or teach me some foreign languages?" the smile played on her lips, and Scylla didn't bother to keep a straight face.

Aliens with excellent taste were definitely making their way up in the list; Alma's nod of approval at the cannoli had Scylla splitting it neatly in half and setting part of it in the lid. Makeshift plate, for sharing. Because sharing was caring, and the entire point of this exercise.

She had to appreciate the alien's utter lack of concern that she could be delivering him poisoned snacks. Then again his metabolism was clearly not the same, and the chances of some random woman knowing poisons that would work effectively on aliens was probably slim.

"I suppose it would have to be on earth, wouldn't it?" Scylla only sounded a little disappointed. There probably isn't really a Restaurant at the End of the Universe you could take me to, is there..." She crunched into the cannoli, humming happily as the sugary treat hit her tastebuds like crack, and pondered. "There are a few really good local restaurants."

Head tilting, she watched his face, something careful that was poorly hidden. "Space pirates?" she asked, keeping her voice light and excited. "I mean, I do enjoy a good round of gossip. I'm only human, after all. Caedus is..." she paused, something flickering sadly across her face. "A friend. I don't know much about his people, or who they were. Are. I mean, I know he is blue, but I'm not sure that narrows down a species any, or means anything, considering our wide variety of human skin tones." setting down the cannoli, as she was suddenly a little less hungry, Scylla instead turned her attention back to Alma and his gelato.

"So what galactic gossip can you surprise me with?"

Almadel and his fluttering eyelids. He was, officially, the most flirtatious alien that she had ever met out of a grand total of like... 6, not including Mauvians. She wasn't going to complain about it though. If he was busy making eyes at his gelato, then that left the other snacks free for the hunting.

She chewed thoughtfully on her treat as he spoke, making note of his mention of the Surrounding. Apart from some knights of Chronos, she had heard little from any of the Zodiac Court, or their Princess, in a very long time. She could only imagine how beat up it might look. "Well, a few cracks are fine so long as the walls stay up." But something about that... bothered her. Cracks were one thing, but any crack could be made larger- and every big fish could be surrounded by little fish that could chip away at weaknesses.

Almadel's saccharine-sweet smile was met with a laugh. "I'm a mother," she informed the alien, reaching out to wipe at an invisible smudge of gelato on his cheek, "You can't smile sweetly enough at me to make me think you're not going to be some form of trouble. We'll just have to wait and see what kind."

Parties, though! Three hundred years ago... "I always knew I was born in the wrong century," she said faux-sadly, "Though Earth in the 1700s probably wasn't very alien-friendly, considering it was full of revolutions, human rights issues, plagues, and- well." she paused. "We've been working on getting our s**t together for a very long time, and you can see how great it's going."

The senshi of the Kraken leaned back, letting her head fall back so she could stare at the wall, upside-down. It seemed sometimes like people hated asylum-seekers, but if the place beyond was so dangerous, and if the Surrounding was still working... for now... "Do you have anything in your inventory that talks about how the Surrounding was made in the first place?" If none of the Zodiacs were active, even the knights could only do so much, likely. But if they knew how the Surrounding had been made, maybe there was a chance that other senshi could try and help... fill in the cracks, as it were. Or that the knights of Chronos could help with repairs? "Or know where I might be able to get my hands on something like that?"

Or even... "And do you think there are many peaceful alien-sorts left who might offer aid in bolstering such a wall, since they would be hidden behind it too?"

"I suppose we'll have to spend more time together before I can decide what kind of trouble you'll bring me, Mister Merchant." the senshi managed to suppress a laugh. At least her purple-haired new friend seemed the relaxed sort, food-motivated, not very trainable but inclined to make deals.

"Presents are nice," Scylla told him cheerfully, "everyone likes a gift. Bargains are fantastic, but receiving something with no real expectation of a trade is pretty sweet; and seeing a gift appreciated makes it all the sweeter for the giver."

She couldn't be upset that he didn't have answers for her, though the senshi couldn't keep the troubled look off of her face. All the Senshi that are here on Earth, you don’t have one that knows how to patch that place up? The only senshi that Scylla could think of who would have a clue on what to do with the Surrounding were the zodiacs... and Scylla didn't know where they were now, or even how to get in touch with them. Which still lived, where their Princess lurked...

Gaps. Big pieces missing. It could be doing its job all day, and maybe would outlast this entire fight here and now, but when it fell... what would be out there to come calling? And who would be forced to fight it?

Still, she tried to make a joke of it, her voice strained as her brow was forced out of its furrowed position. "I'm sure there's a senshi of magical architecture laying around somewhere. Probably a senshi of tailors, too, though it would probably be much easier to just find a proper tailor. When on Earth, buy some Earth clothes. I'm sure they'll last you from one visit to the next."

Old, ancient magic. Her homeworld had always been made of warriors, not magic-users. Who would she be able to talk to next, if Almadel failed? Cosmos? Would she even have any interest in it? Probably... if only because the Surrounding falling could cause problems.

"I suppose Peaceful isn't the correct word. Possible allies. If the Surrounding is working, then people who are afraid to come out of hiding might be interested in helping it to stay working, if only to keep a working hidey-hole, or gain a new one. But you, my new friend, are my only current inter-galactic contact." Guardian cats excluded, she supposed. And Caedus couldn't count until she knew if he was even... going to come back in her lifetime. Of course he was still alive.

He had promised.

Scylla caught the large bite, and grinned at him. "Of course we will; you'll need someone to roll you around like an Almaball, after all." Might as well be the person who turned him from such a svelte figure into a moon with legs.

There was more on her plate- no pun intended- at the moment than worrying about how alien biology would handle the onset of diabetes. "There's the same possibility with humans." she didn't mean it to come out sounding tired, but it did. "Anyone can, and will, betray you. Even the people you love." she leaned back, lips pursing. "So treat everyone the way you would want to be treated, and have a backup plan and a pre-written 'I'm disappointed in you' monologue for the shitstorm to follow. Isn't it better to be reckless with love and kindness, instead of cruelty? I can confirm that it makes a lot more space-friends."

She rested her chin on a fist, going back to watching Alma eat. "Though to be fair you should have been suspicious. I showed up with a massive pile of food- what if I've poisoned it?" As if to show how afraid he should be, she reached out with her un-chinned hand, grabbing the last bite of her half of the cannoli, chomping into it with relish. "Mmmm, poison."