RP:Seeking A Sword

Summary: Kyori arranges a meeting with Penelope and Lanara, in hopes to find his missing sword. The trio get a tip from Ruari, and head to Enchantment to hunt down three healers that may know its whereabouts. Kyori and Nel trick Lana into thinking they are a couple and that they are expecting a baby on the walk to Genevieve Limberton’s cottage. Things don’t go so well at Vivi’s, as she seems to loathe men, and she mercilessly toys with Kyori, before giving them a deal they cannot refuse. If the man wants to reclaim his sword, he must complete three tasks, none of which are simple.

Part of the Until It Sleeps Arc

Kyori dumps the last stack of plates on the bar and wipes his forehead with his sleeve. He’s taken to helping Nancy with menial tasks at the tavern to repay his idiotic behavior the night he woke up and the room use he definitely hadn’t been paying. It kills time and helps keep the spellblade’s mind off the glaring lack of spellblade in his life. Beyond playing busboy, he’s waiting at the tavern for Penelope’s promised appearance for ‘explanations’. All of which involve her ‘new’ housing arrangements. He’s also got a healthy chunk of tree trunk to unload on the healer. If she brings his cigarettes. He’s clean shaven and wearing a stained and sad excuse of a ‘uniform’ instead of his usual rust colored attire. Patrons had been complaining that he looked like a homeless person. Which was rude because he was, thanks. Nancy pulled these clothes out of a lost and ‘found’ (kept) crate behind the bar. The shirt was too big and the pants too tight but no one complained to Nancy about it anymore. “How is this better than my clothes?” He asks the barmaid and peels off his ridiculous half apron. “I look like I’m about to go start a band that complains about my parents and dye my hair black.” Kyori adjusts the pants and groans. He pushes his table tips across the bar, keeping enough for cigarettes (in case Penelope falls through) and dinner. Nancy rolls her eyes at his complaints, as she always does, and shoos him away so she can keep doing her job. “I don’t get paid enough to babysit you.” She snorts and moves away to take another table’s order. “Jokes on you,” he calls back, “No one does.”

Penelope slowly slides a few coins across the counter of the smoke shop. There was a mixture of herbs in the air, must, and smoke. The guy behind the counter makes shifty eyes at the healer. “You don’t look like a smoker,” the healer’s gaze appears flat at the merchant. “And you are way too observant just give it to me,” she snatches the pack of cigarettes from the man before leaving the coins behind. “Don’t you want your change?” But she is out the door because she is on a time crunch. A letter was sent to Lanara in order for her best friend to come by the tavern at the given time of mid-day. Not too early and not too late. Hopefully enough time to make it to Enchantment and back before nightfall. Lanara knew Enchantment like no other and had direct closeness to Queen Lunalesca. That never hurt, right? Penelope meanders out of the building before looking down at the pack. Her tongue sticks into her cheek in thought, and curiosity peaks. The pack is flipped open, a cigarette is taken out and a single finger glows red to set the stick aflame. Penelope tastes the end which consists of burning herbs before she inhales in the smoke. She does it once. Hm. Then again twice. Way too deep of an inhale the second time. The girl coughs out drastically the smokey puff as the smoke itches at her lungs. Her throat aches as it burns. This was horrible, so horrible it caused her skin to flush and made her go pale. Really, Kyori? -And-, at one point, Lanara? She immediately drops it and stomps it out. Not too far away from the tavern and she is rolling in with that pale face. Kyori is talking to Nancy, and Penelope is sliding onto a barstool at the counter. “You’re disgusting,” she echoes behind the man with the tight pants on. She slides the pack across to him that appears to be opened and missing a cigarette. “I think I need a ginger ale.” She presses her head onto the counter. She was fine. Just dramatic, per usual. “I’ll give you a tip if you even bring me a mint alongside it.” She then turns her head to look up at him to check out his new digs of an outfit. “Someone finally forced you to change. Too bad it wasn’t me. I could’ve at least let you breathe. I didn’t know I had the option.” She was talking about the pants. She has a smile on that olive complexion although she hides most of it from trying to catch her breath from earlier.

Lanara strolls into the tavern as though she owns the place, from the sound of the double doors smacking violently against the interior, before they slam shut. She’s clad in a pair of black jeans, a pink tank top with a loose gray cardigan covering her bare arms, and a pair of black ankle boots. Lana’s hair flows freely past her elbows and she doesn’t wear any makeup, not that her natural beauty requires it anyway. She does sport an envious tan, as she has been away for more than a month, and it seems that relaxation is a look that she wears well. The witch had received a note from Penelope and so she immediately dropped everything and headed to the Kelay Tavern. As she nears the location of Kyori and Nel, suspicion tinges those big brown eyes, and a devilish smile is offered to her two friends, “Well, well, well. What do we have here?!” She gives a knowing wink to the spellblade, before she elbows her best friend, “How could you guys -not- tell me?! I’ve been shipping this for -months- now!” As they stare at her in sheer confusion, Lana rolls her eyes so hard that she swears she can see her spinal column! “Oh come on! Don’t play dumb! You guys did the dirty! The beast with two backs!” She’s a little loud and other patrons are giggling and ogling them, so she drops her voice to a whisper, “He is wearing -your- pants, and you reek of his cigarettes! I literally can pinpoint that you had smoke in your mouth, I have wolf senses now, remember?” How can they keep their relationship status from -her- the witty, woodland witch?! “A mojito please, Nancy.” She beckons for her ‘usual’ order and sits on a stool while she waits, for some juicy gossip, as well as her drink. “So, if this isn’t why you beckoned me… What are we all up to today?”

Kyori leans against the counter and snorts at Penelope. “I bought new clothes once.” On her suggestion, for their hiking trip to find that flower. He also bought an outfit for that ball he took Nat to and he’s sure he saw the healer there with her dunce apprentice. “Twice.” He corrects as he snaps up the pack of cigarettes and gives the healer a smug grin. “Do you talk to customers with that mouth?” He pats his too tight pockets and realizes there’s no lighter in them. This is Nancy’s fault. Kyori’s brewing a reply to Penelope’s drink order when another familiar face steals the spotlight. He is shocked to see the witch slamming open doors and sauntering up to the pair with questions. His face is lit up by childish delight at the slanderous accusations she’s tossing at them. Like she’s a magician pulling rabbits out of hats for a five year old. He shoots Penelope a look and shakes his head. “I told you she was gonna find out dumpling.” To Lanara, “Sorry you had to find out this way. Walk of shame. She destroyed mine.” The spellblade isn’t bothered by it. This was the same guy who believed Lanara’s shameless instruction to take off their clothes after the ritual in the woods. Nancy stops at the counter with Lanara’s mojito and Penelope’s ginger ale with mint. She smiles at the trio and moves back to her business. Kyori snipes a glass of water and not so discreetly adjusts the stupid pants again. “I’m clocking out.” He ducks behind the bar to rescue his pants from the box and quickly trades ‘Penelope’s’ pants for his own out of view. He sighs in relief and throws the smaller pants back in the box and then Nancy’s voice becomes a grating presence. “Don’t you dare leave those pants there!” He takes them out of the box and drops them BESIDE the box instead. There, solved. “You look tan and well…rested.” He grins, praising himself on his clever wordplay before he looks to Penelope for an answer to Lanara’s question. “Dumpling?”

Penelope smirks with her head on the table as Kyori mentioned what he bought for their cerulean flower adventure. As it was long ago, but she holds her tongue. Her hair lays over her shoulders as she is still refusing to look at him in her nauseated way. “I -am- the customer in this scenario,” she finally turns her head up to look at him with an amused, sassy smirk in return. Just then, she notices Kyori’s expression change as he looks past her. The Ardelian turns her head to see her best friend strutting across the tavern and looking bright as ever in her presence. “Hey,” Penelope starts in a content voice, slow voice until Lanara begins to make accusations. Nel’s mouth twitches, and before the red creeps all the way up her neck and face, she puts her head back down on the counter to look at Kyori’s expression as if she technically did come in nauseous. She catches the man’s stare. That childish amusement dances in his eyes, and it makes her grin because she, too, was a woman full of banter. The girl finally slides herself to sit up again and adjusts the sleeves on her loose orange, cream floral-colored blouse. Thankfully, Nancy comes to save her with the mint as she takes a piece to settle her stomach. Her teeth grind on the mint as she watches Kyori take the lead. “I thought I could at least keep the truth about Dreamboat over here.” She brushes a hand against his forearm, in the act, before she turns back to tapping fingers against the ginger ale. “Hence why I ordered the mint, yeah?” She smirks towards Lanara. “Caught us. I’ll have to tell you -everything- later, Lana.” Mossy green eyes roll over to Kyori in a playful, daring taunt at her own words. She sends a little wink his way. A strand of hair is tucked behind her ear as she lets Kyori go 'clock out', and she is tipping back the ginger ale to ease her stomach from the real reason she smells of Kyori's comfort cigarettes. Because she is a wimp of a woman. “You look amazing, Lana! I hope you and Tiber got the rejuvenation you need!” Penelope finally stands to hug her best friend. “But, vacation is over. Why are you here? Ruari fudged up. Kyori’s sword is missing, and it might be from a couple nurses Ruari hired from Enchantment. I figured you are literally the mega investigator and know a lot about Enchantment and connections that you could help us out! Plus, it’s good to get all of us together.”

The look on Lanara Lowell’s face is truly priceless as her lush lips part, her eyes are as wide as saucers, and she seems to have been frozen in place. The incredulous stare turns to one of wonder, as she blinks at Kyori’s boyish smirk, and takes in Penelope’s sassy smile. “You -destroyed- his pants?! You’re an animal, Nel!” She wraps the girl up in a tight hug, while winking at Kyori over the healer's shoulder, because she thoroughly improves of them being in a relationship! “Why didn’t you two tell me?” Lana wants to pout and feign sadness, but she’s so overjoyed at the idea that her two favorite people have found love with each other! It doesn’t even dawn on her that they can be playing a dirty trick, but it serves her right, the meddling little witch! Their drinks arrive and Lana takes a long sip, savoring the flavor of the rum, while Kyori heads into the back to change his clothes. She doesn’t question it, as she knows he rents a room upstairs, but her eyes do narrow on Nel, as she nibbles on the mint. Nausea. At this hour? The witch leans in and whispers, “Did Dreamboat knock you up, Nel? You can tell me. I mean… It’s rather sudden, but you -destroyed- his pants?!” Penelope was the one that told Lana to wear Tiber’s pants, too, come to think of it! Perhaps the healer had some sort of fetish involving mens clothes? The two of them are asking Lana about her honeymoon and she smiles, a faint blush on her fair face, “I missed you guys, and I brought you back souvenirs! Well. We didn’t do much resting.” She waggles her brows and laughs, as she socks Kyori in the arm, “Neither did you… But I’m glad you aren’t in a coma again.” The spellblade and healer may have -made- magic, but they sure as heck didn’t use any, and if a little physical exertion kept the guy awake? It’s all good in her book! “Wait. Ruari hired thieves?” Either the rum is very strong in her mojito or she’s confused by this turn of events, “Can’t you just get a new sword, Coyote?” What’s so great about a simple sword?! The witch mulls over their words, her eyes locking with Nel, “I thought you invited me here to tell me about your lovelife. Or maybe because Dreamboat is all about dreaming and we were going to try and find a cure. Or about the baby you’re having!” But instead it’s over some sword?! Lana still doesn’t know much about Kyori, aside from the fact that he’s always been there for her, and her late daughter, Natianara. Oh, and that he can communicate with the dead and use magic. “Did you name your rock?” She blurts it out so suddenly and with such conviction that one would assume this is the deciding factor on if she will help them navigate Enchantment or not. It all depends on a name.

Kyori brandishes a boyish grin at his new title, ready and more than willing to use it in the future. His blond brows raise at Penelope, respect for the come back. It’s hilarious to imagine what the healer would say to the witch about this. ‘At least there’s a lot of alone time, distance makes the heart grow fonder, he’s not pestering me by leaving clothes lying around all the time.’ Maybe comas could be a good thing. Lana did look good. Better than the odd run in at her animal sanctuary. Penelope’s mention of his sword sobers his expression. His sword. It was still missing. In the downtime, he’s asked around the tavern to see if any patrons saw anyone leave with it, but so far no dice. “It’s a pretty distinct sword.” He says to agree. The spellblade grins when Lana questions why they didn’t tell her about their secret romance. “You weren’t here!” he replies and takes a drink of his water, still leaning against the bar top. Lanara believing this charade was the top ten most hilarious things he’s witnessed. When Lanara accuses Kyori of knocking up Penelope, he looks at the freckle-faced woman with pretend concern. “What? You said it was from smoking?” He looks at Lanara like she has a super power. He’d only been allowed to take a pet rock from the sanctuary, he could not be trusted with a human child. A human child that did not exist. “I had a lot to catch up on, okay.” He raises his hands to surrender at Lanara’s punch. He’s been extra careful not to use magic, especially with his sword gone, thank you very much. “I think he hired nurses from that company you used in Enchantment when I first went under.” You know, that whole accusing him of playing some weird mother daughter romance stunt where Lanara actually stabbed a healer? His eye twitches at the suggestion to get a ‘new’ sword. Keep cool, she doesn’t know that most of those gem stones on the hilt contain the souls of his sisters that help he see ghosts. She knew the see ghosts part but the how wasn’t discussed. “Can’t,” is his carefully selected reply, “Family heirloom.” Technically, not a lie. It was literally made of his family. That sounds creepy out loud, though, so he’s not adding that part. Lanara lucks out that his sword is gone. He can’t see any Nat ghosts without it, so that secret is lock and key safe. "Biggest concern is that they'll try and take all the gems out..." He can't guess what that could do for the swords magic or his sisters. In the pocket of HIS pants, for a laugh, he pulls out the rock to show off his impressive parenting skills. “Named him Zeth, say hello Zeth.” He shows the pet rock to Penelope first, she hasn’t seen it, then waggles it back at Lanara. “We’ve learned sit and play dead. Gotta graduate to living breathing pets before the baby comes.”

Penelope takes a side-glance as Kyori walks away. “As if they were pants to begin with,” she was not wrong, right, even if they talked of lies and playfulness? Maybe it -was- a men’s clothes fetish without the pounce. Not that Kyori was bad looking as she found him very easy on the eyes, but she also found him in extensive comas which was more concerning for his well being, in general. The workaholic in her always overtook the actual non-clinical life that Ruari was trying to make her live. Jests aside, Penelope turns back to Lanara. The color is coming back to Nel’s olive skin and she runs a hand through her hair, but stops abruptly as Lanara questions if the Ardelian is pregnant. “You think I’m -that- fertile? I feel like I’m smarter than that,” Penelope is genuinely in the squinty ‘what the heck’ mode, but Kyori comes back in the time that Nel cannot explain to the Kelvarian that she is -not- pregnant. Nel a mom? With those clinical hours? With a man who falls into comas? Distance makes the heart grow fonder, but the younglings grow much taller. He would have a teenager calling him ‘dad’ the next time he woke up if Penelope and Kyori were speaking true tales. Penelope lets Lanara and Kyori take over, as it is -his- sword with his explanation. She is thrown off-guard, however, when Kyori is actually faux concerned about the ‘pregnancy’. She reflects his posture “It’s probably nothing. It’s the smoke–it has to be! I–I might have to get a check-up,” she acts slowly. She bites her tongue in tease. “But, Lanara, a cure for Kyori is on the list, but the sword means more to him.” Her finger twitches with the stone on her finger–she can only imagine what or who the other stones were for. “Look, we don’t know if those nurses Ruari hired -actually- stole Kyori’s sword. What if it's safe-keeping? What if they were being cautious?” Hands reach for both Kyori and Lanara to reach for their arms in comfort. She let Kyori take the lead with a poor explanation, but she understood because… the spellblade was complicated–even though she struggled, but the two were both learning trust within one another. “Let me cut in, Lanara. Also, I’m -so- glad you had a wonderful vacation. Obviously much needed with what you’ve been through.” The Ardelian reaches to squeeze her best friend’s arm again. “But reunions aside, do you know of a Genevieve Limberton, Eliyen Limberton, and a Killian Graham? We want to track down these nurses to find the sword so it can return safely back to Ky.” Beat. Now there is talk of a… rock? The druid snorts as she is almost spitting out ginger ale at the thought of a pet rock. Crummy joke, Lanara, but Nel, clearly appreciates it as she loves humor. “Congrats on the Zeth pet. Cute. He matches your aura. He’ll stick by your side through and through, I’m sure.” She grins childishly at Kyori before eyes rest on Lanara. “So, are we going to Enchantment today?”

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara quirks a brow at Kyori’s words of Nel having a lot of free time on her hands, while he’s off in one of his comas, and she shakes her head. At least the man is able to laugh at his misery, and it’s better than wallowing in pity. She feels sympathy for him, but she masks it with a smirk, “Goddess knows that Tiber needs a break from me every now and then!” She -is- a handful and high maintenance in relationships, so her husband must be the most patient and accepting man in the entire realm! Lanara’s attention is evenly divided between her two friends; the possibly pregnant Penelope, and the casually comatose Kyori. She rummages in her tote bag to retrieve the souvenirs and hands them each a small box that smells like the beach. Upon opening, Nel will see a dainty gold anklet that has some beach themed charms, as well as half of a heart, “I have the matching anklet… Together the pendant reads ‘Best Friends’ and I figured they were too cute not to get!” Kyori’s box is a little heavier and quite a bit larger, and Lana finds herself biting the inside of her cheek as he opens it, “Careful, it’s fragile…” She knows that man yearns for companionship, especially as he conks out for months at a time, so it will be nice to have someone waiting for him to wake up! Plus, they don’t require much care, just a spritz of water every now and again and food whenever Kyori remembers. As the spellblade opens the box, he will see a small octagonal tank with sand in the base, a heavily soaked sponge beside a seashell food dish, and a hermit crab crawling around. The crab's shell is a pale blue color with navy striations and is about two inches in diameter. “Love you both!” Lana smiles at the rock's nickname, “Zeth has a new friend, and so do you!” Hopefully, Kyori can be trusted with this pet, because Lana even had her doubts about letting him adopt the rock! The amusement fades from Lana’s eyes as the beans are spilled about smoking, because Nel used to fiercely scold her whenever she would light one up! “Excuse me! Smoke is bad for Dreamboat Junior -AND- how could you push me to quit and then you go and start!?” Unbeknownst to the pair, Lanara does still have a cigarette every now and then, mostly whenever she’s anxious, or after her and Tiber, -ahem- erm, right! The sword! The tempting thoughts of her husband stop there as they are now on a mission.

(Post 2 of 2) Coins are deposited atop the bar to pay for the drinks, before the trio proceeds to leave the tavern and head to Enchantment. Lanara links arms with Penelope and returns the squeeze, but she feels as though both of her friends are leaving out an important detail. Why is this sword so important? Sure family heirlooms are nice and all, but shouldn’t Kyori’s health take precedence? Then again, Lanara did break into the Cenril Bank to retrieve a skull, so maybe it’s not as crazy as it seems. “What have you been up to while I was gone, Nel? How is Ruari? Is Celeste doing well?” They walk through Kelay and head south, a familiar and popular path, and a few bystanders glance their way. Lana smiles, imagining that they are on the yellow brick road in search of a brain, heart, courage, and a way home. Is she the good witch or bad witch in this scenario? “I’m sorry, did you say Genevieve Limberton?!” She caught herself daydreaming again and only half listening to her comrades. It’s both embarrassing and delightful, because it had been a very very long time since the witch had been able to focus on anything, save for her anxiety. Most is right in her world and she can afford for her mind to wander once in a while. “Of -course- I know Vivi! We have been acquaintances for years, and one time she helped me nurse a couple of sick squirrels back to health.” The other two names aren’t familiar to Lana, but if they are the ones that took her gold and fled on Kyori in his sleeping state, she plans to get her money back. One way or another!

Kyori forgot Lanara brought gifts. He looks over Penelope’s shoulder to peep her gift and grins at the pair of them with matching anklets. His sapphire eyes catch sight of her ring. He couldn’t protect her right now either, without his sword. He handles his gift with care. The crab and the spellblade lock eyes (he thinks?). “Zac.” He names it immediately. “Weird, it matches my eye color.” He teases, betting it was intentional. As intentional as knowing his magic is based in the blue waters and snows. “Can people with water magic talk to water creatures?” His face is serious. “Lana, can I talk to crabs?” Insert Heavy Breathing cat meme because the writer thinks it’s funny. The women go on to talk about the names of the nurses Penelope’s stupid apprentice hired and he turns the tank around to look at the crab from all angles. He’ll show Lana why the sword is special when he gets it back. Perfect trust secret handshake magic club honor. He drops the crab off in his room before they go. He stays behind the two women and scuffs quietly when the witch mentions Ruari. He smokes a cigarette to dodge the conversation while they walk.

(Post 1 of 3) Penelope smiles at her close friend before she watches the Kelvarian dig in her tote-bag for a small box. The scent is relaxing and reminds her of her younger days in Cenril. She opens the lid and finds the anklet. “Oh my gosh,” the girl gasps slightly. “Aww, I love it.” It was true. Penelope loved accessories. And the fact that this was a best friend anklet accessory? Well, that just meant more to the druid. The girl never had a sister, nor someone as lovely as the witch, caring, or helpful. Lanara always had Penelope’s back and wanted what was best for the healer. The Ardelian goes in for the hug. “Thank you.” The girl leans down and wraps the anklet around her ankle. Eyes lock on Kyori’s surprise and she grins when he makes the comment of it matching his eyes. In the back of Nel’s mind, she will have to make note of the hermit crab. Keep track of it in case things… happened. Maybe she should focus more on Kyori’s health. But, then again, he was so adamant about the sword. The stones. She had a feeling why. Selflessness. “Zac and Zeth, I like it. Zeth should go in his tank!” The girl chimes. “We love you,” even if Kyori could not say it, Nel speaks for him. Come on. Everyone loved Lanara! Well, besides all the strangers she would betray with her husband. When Nel is accused, the girl looks genuinely confused as she almost forgot she was in a bit with Kyori. “Uh, well, talk to a second-hand smoke.” She grins wide at Kyori. She was teasing. Actually, the smell of cigarettes was becoming a comfort for her. To know that he was there, but with those smokes… Well, time would tell.

(Post 2 of 3) Once they move off, Penelope walks happily with the witch. A friend she never had–besides Ruari, but even Ruari would not link arms and walk with her unless it was a ball. Penelope recognizes the change of shift when Kyori falls silent to listen at the mention of Ruari. She was observant that way, but she cannot address what happened between Kyori and Ruari. The fight that almost broke out. “I’ve just been living. Some guy asked me to help out with the infestation that’s reached Cenril with… the virus? But overall, just healing–dealing, the right kinda prescriptions. Ruari is…” she wants to glance at Kyori. “The same.” Really her and Ruari were mending things from that night. “Celeste is doing -wonders-! She actually helped me heal the Blue Demon? Which I have a gift for you too! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Unfortunately, it’s at the hut waiting for you! You’ll have to visit eventually.” They walk and Nel looks over her shoulder. “Not necessary, we have a baby on the way, it -might- sound like,” she banters with the sulky man behind her.

(Post 3 of 3) They pass through the forests and eventually Enchantment comes into play as the town is bustling with elves and pixies. “Thank gosh you know Genevieve. I assume Eliyen is maybe her sister…? Cousin? Since they have the same last names?” She was not sure. “Do you want to lead us to Vivi first? Since you know her radar and perhaps we can get a lead from there? Or maybe she has it?!”

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara can see that the gift of an actual living creature means the world to Kyori, and she smiles softly, touched that he likes his little pet. “His shell does match your eyes!” Zac and Zeth will be great friends, she’s sure of it, as neither of them has much personality and require little to no care. As the question about being able to talk to water animals if he has water magic is raised, she lifts a brow, “Hm. Good question. Animals and elements don’t usually go hand in hand, but lots of magic users tend to have other blessings. Mine was empathy with humans and animals, but I had to make a sacrifice to save my sister, so I only can communicate with animals in that sense, now. Taly? She doesn’t have any extra affinities, but my Aunt Sharna, she was a witch, too. And she had the gift of foretelling the future, so I guess it really depends on your lineage and how strong your powers are and how often they are used.” Next, Penelope opens her box and the look on her face is priceless, as she truly loves her gift! Lana hugs her tight and squeals, “Now we will match! I figured it’s about time we lock down our best friend forever-ship!” It’s the perfect gift, because even if Nel is arm deep in blood and tending to someone’s injuries, she doesn’t need to worry about damaging or losing her anklet! It’s always there, a constant reminder of the friendship between the two women. A mild glare is given to Kyori as he smokes a cigarette and scoffs at Ruari’s mention, “You shouldn’t be smoking around the baby!” She wonders if perhaps Ruari is the father, and maybe that’s why Kyori isn’t fond of the man!?

(Post 2 of 2) The walk through the forest is filled with conversation about Nel’s everyday life and how awesome Celeste is doing under her apprenticeship, “I’m so happy to hear that, I will have to tell Tiber. We are very proud of her and so grateful to you… We’ll have to have you over for dinner sometime.” Hopefully it will go well, because the last guest she had over was Alvina and Tiber accused her of being ‘handsy’ and he refers to Nel as a hippie! Aira, is perhaps his least favorite of Lana’s friends, and she’s known as ‘call of the wild’ and he calls Nick a Backstreet Booger! The lycan rarely has anything nice to say about her friends, but at least she -has- friends, so she tries not to get too upset with him. They cross into Enchantment and Lana nods, “I believe they are sisters, yes, but estranged from what I know about them. It’s a shame when family doesn’t get along…” Lana pauses and waits for Kyori to finish smoking, so there are less interruptions and so Nel’s baby doesn’t pop out with two heads. “We are going back a few years, but I know that Vivi used to live in the Forest of Shadows, just north of the evil glowing tree… We will have to keep our wits about us, if we mean to go to her house. However, she also frequents the local flower shop, as she braids her hair with fresh flowers every morning.” If they decide to visit Vivi’s home, Lana will lead them in that direction, and she makes sure to stay close to her friends. Nel is a healer, Kyori is a comatose boy without a weapon, and that makes Lana the muscle of the group. This should be interesting!

Kyori hates Ruari because that idiot flat out told Kyori he was a mistake Penelope was making. Ruari hid the fact that Kyori had been asleep in the tavern for months from her. The apprentice’s words to Penelope, in front of the warrior, sting his skin still. ‘You always get stuck on situations like this.’ Kyori is the situation. ‘And you just can’t let it go. I couldn’t watch you do it again.’ He hates that Ruari didn’t react when Kyori almost punched him. Shouldn’t have pulled the punch. Kyori looks up and finds their small group here. Penelope and Lanara look like they have everything covered. Are they his bodyguards? Man, he hates feeling useless without his sword. Can’t defend anyone. Can’t get the sword back if he needs to fight for. Can’t do anything. And if there’s one thing Kyori hates feeling, it’s helpless. Helpless was how he felt falling asleep all the time. Maybe their true goal is to find a cure and not the sword but the spellblade can’t let this go. He’ll die to get it back if he has to. Pen and Lana will kill him, of course, but he’ll get it back. He takes the last draw from his cigarette and grinds the dying butt into the dirt with his boot heels. Feeling the direct stare of one (or both) of the women, he reaches down to put the killed bud in his pocket. No littering. Lighter and pack of smokes rattle beside it lazily. The closer they get to enchantment, the more his ears ache. Kyori hates the fae. The sounds of birds (even if they can’t hear them) and small voices start to rise, a familiar and ridiculous reaction to this place. He forgot this place was like this. This is why he’d almost fought Lunalesca the day he met Lana, because he couldn't hear her. “Lana do you have any of those apples?” She took him to an orchard that first day and made him eat an apple and talked about the healing powers of the place. He needs something to help or he can’t go further in here. “It’s getting loud.” The spellblade stops, palms pressed flat against his ears. He was starting to feel nauseous.

Penelope’s cheeks suck in in thought about Vivi. “Evil glowing tree?” Really? Why? Forest of Shadows? What the heck? This seemed like a recipe for disaster, but then again, Lanara knew the woman. “Well, since it’s not necessarily morning, maybe we should try her house?” Nel appreciates when Kyori sticks the bud in his pocket. “Don’t singe your pants,” she grins over her shoulder, but as Kyori begins covering his ears, the girl frowns and halts with the man. Moss eyes looked concerned before she looked towards Lanara for an answer. The Kelvarian was advanced in her witchy ways as Nel barely understood magic at all even if she could use some.

Lanara is pleased that Kyori puts the cigarette away but Nel’s comment about burning his pants has her smirking, “Can’t he just borrow another pair of yours?” She’s still under the belief that the duo are a romantic couple, and that the healer is a hellion in bed. A nod is given as they agree to head to Vivi’s house first, and Lana leads the way, but they all come to a stop when Kyori randomly presses his hands against his head and asks for a snack. The witch quirks a brow and exchanges a concerned look with Penelope, before her eyes widen and she remembers that when she had first met the spellblade, he had a similar reaction. Is he allergic to something in Enchantment? Kyori is a great friend, but now he needs snack time and months long naps, and Lana wonders if maybe they should put him in some sort of rehabilitation center until they work out a cure. “I don’t have any food on me… The orchard is that way, if you want us to detour?” It’s a few miles west of where they currently are standing, and she can see that Nel is a little fearful of entering the dark forest at nightfall. “Why don’t we split up? Kyori can head to the orchard and grab some apples, while Nel and I go find Vivi?” She pauses, “Or we can all go to the orchard and return here later, or tomorrow?” The witch takes in their surroundings and she spies a few bushes with some shiny leaves that can easily be mistaken for poison ivy, but she knows better. “There are some grape leaves, you can gnaw on those, and I believe I see a few dandelions… All of that is edible, and maybe the chewing will distract you from the ringing in your ears!” Lana looks at Penelope, “The first time I met Kyori was over in the orchard, and I thought that he was seasick! He was dizzy, had difficulty hearing, and he was very nauseous. After absorbing some sugar, he seemed to bounce back, but I’m not really sure what’s causing this reaction.” Nel is the healer of the group, so perhaps she will be able to provide some insight.

Kyori can’t hear Lana’s muted words over his hands and the ringing. He takes a risk and pulls one hand away, flinching at the noise but making out enough between her expression and the leaves she’s looking at. “Yeah!” He screams, not able to hear himself, and shoves several leaves in his mouth to chew. The fae magic here had a bad reaction with him. Eating something native to the area helps, but he hasn’t put two and two together on that part yet. His body acted like a hissing cat in Enchantment. Bad blood between his magic source and the fairies? Kyori didn’t know. All he knew was last time, Lana gave him an apple and it stopped. After finishing a mouthful, he unplugs one ear and looks back at them. “You did tell me to eat this right?” Maybe the women would be better off without him slowing them down. “You guys go.” His sapphire eyes hold them for a beat. “I’ll check around town and we can meet up in an hour?” The scraps of the conversation he’d gotten from them before the noise started told him they knew who they were looking for more intimately than he did. “I won’t punch any puppy vendors.” He gives Lana his best ‘I’ll be good’ smile. How much trouble could the man get into on his own anyway? “Or should I be checking with my doctor?” He keeps one hand pressed against his ear, giving Penelope a daring glance. His own volume is lower, marking improvement. They were here for him. He can't slow them down.

Penelope cants her head to observe the situation which she cannot get a firm handle on. The magical healing was out of her realm as she really only focused on non-magics for simpler (in her territory) solutions. The whole time Lanara is talking and Kyori is too, Penelope is visualizing closer experiences on the non-magical healer front. The Kelvarian said… allergies. Kyori is covering his ears as he is in pain. In the past the two before her ate something from the lands of Enchantment. Moss eyes zone as the two banter back and forth and question decisions of a plan. As both of them look at her at the same time, her eyes lift. “My only guess is that… yes, there may be an allergy of some sort? Allergies can sometimes cause ear infections depending on the severity of the congestion, and hypothetically,” here comes her version of medical, hypothetical science, “the dust is too much for your senses. Like magical pollen. When people eat honey in a certain area, that tends to help with the allergies. So possibly, if you eat from the land, it might just help the pain. This is only a guess why you’re having this problem. Possibly a very far stretch of a guess.” As he had already eaten the leaves, she grinds her teeth. “I hope those were the dandelion leaves.” Because… if not, yikes. “If we want to split, I’m okay with that. Cover more ground?” Beat. “But, if you feel like breaking the healer’s code of conflict of interest, I say… we go together so I can keep an eye on you.” She looks to Lanara. “And you. Say the sword was actually stolen? Say we get in trouble? At least all of us will be a three against… whoever. All hypothetical, of course.” Better to be safe than sorry.

Lanara’s expression shifts from one of deep rooted concern to one of puzzlement, as she’s unsure how best to proceed in this adventure. They could all trek to the other side of Enchantment and pick some apples, or they could all go to Genevieve’s home and hope that she is willing to hand over the sword. -If- she even has it in her possession! The other option is to split up, and she’s definitely not in favor of that one, but Kyori is obviously suffering some sort of allergic reaction. It’s possibly that the allergy is pixie dust as that breeds faster than the rabbits at the sanctuary! Lana chews on her lower lip for a moment and glances from Kyori to Penelope, and she weighs her options, as it seems that the spellblade wants to split up but the healer wishes for them to remain together. She wonders if perhaps Nel and Kyori wish to have some ‘alone’ time in the orchard and they are too shy to come out and say it, but she dismisses the thought that she’s a third wheel and says, “Let’s -all- go together and hopefully I can find Kyori something to munch on in the dark forest. There are berries in that area, we just need to choose the ones that won’t make him weak in the bowels, as he’s already weak in the knees.” She winks at her best friend and chuckles, though her expression is rather serious as she glances at Kyori, “If there are any more rude animal breeders, I will take them out myself.” She’s no longer in the damsel in distress mode, as since she had been turned, her mood shifts like the wind and she’s quick to anger; not to mention the enhanced senses, especially strength. A punch is likely all that’s necessary to subdue someone, but when her inner wolf awakens, she is more than capable of murder. “Cover your ears and walk between us, maybe that will muffle the effect, Coyote.” Lana flanks his left side and she motions for Nel to do so on the opposite side, as they proceed to the eastern section of town, and the witch keeps them entertained with some tales from her honeymoon. One is a rather lengthy tale about some strange folks at a bed and breakfast that wished to tame Lanara to the point where she would be subservient to her husband. “They had us working their stupid farm, and they were mistreating the horses!” The tale goes on and on, until she states that the newlyweds sprung the horses from the stables and rode them to the coast of Rynvale, where they camped out and had a memorable and rebellious night. The distraction tactic works, as they are now passing the border into the forest, “So… If Vivi -does- have the sword, are we just going to ask for it back? Should we offer to buy it? Trade? We can’t just accuse her of theft or ask for a gift back if Ruari gave it to her, maybe we should come up with a plan?”

By now, Kyori’s forgotten the trick they’d played on Lana in the tavern. Poor Dreamboat Jr. “Allergy?” He looks skeptical with Lanara’s idea of eating berries that mess with him. The reminder of that breeder who talked down to the witch makes his blood boil. She could handle herself but his protectiveness of her hadn’t changed. He doesn’t know if it ever would. “What trouble could I get up to alone?” His eyes settle on Penelope, daring her to list all the ways he could cause trouble. To Lana he nods, letting them surround him like bodyguards against this pixie dust or Fae mischief. The spellblade listens to Lanara’s story, eyes sharp on their surroundings. “Was that a werewolf thing or a sexist thing?” He asks at a junction appropriate. At it’s conclusion, Kyori’s ears are hurting less. “We can’t go there when we elope for our child.” He tells Penelope seriously before Lanara starts discussing tactics. “I don’t have any coin.” He groans. “And I only a pet rock to trade.” That he left at the tavern with his crab. His pride rises hot in his chest. Kyori can’t let the women barter for him. “What would she want that we could trade?” He was anxious about offering anything to do with his magic.

Penelope listens to the tale that is mortifying for a honeymoon. Were honeymoons -not- supposed to be romantic? “That sounds hellacious. How could he do that to you and bring you to that place? Then again, you freed horses.” So maybe it was meant to be after all. When Kyori questions the ‘trouble’ aspect, the Ardelian gives him a look. “Don’t even get me started.” The list would go on. As they walk, Penelope takes in the nature around them. The forest is starting to get dimmer. When Kyori talks of elopement for their child, she snorts. “You need to do a lot more than put a ring on it. I’m talking nine months without a single drop of liquor. You get to suffer too. After all, you did this to me.” A side glance is given to the man in that jest. When the topic grows serious again, Penelope pauses. Her teeth grit for a moment. “I think I might have something.” Her hand lifts to clutch the chain around her neck before following the chain to the Ardelian pendant. “It’s an heirloom.” Pause. The pendant is a triangle to symbolize a mountain for earth, while red encrusts it to resemble fire. Rubies. “But I don’t come from the best, honest family line. This was my uncle’s. He was the one to put the curse on the chief of Ardelia’s child, Leon--shameful, really. It’s historical. Expensive. My brother has the other one that was my dad's. The one that truly matters, anyway, but…” she rolls up her sleeve to show off the tattooed octagram on her wrist. “I already have something I cherish with my brother that is embedded with magic.” Oh, yeah, she owed an explanation about her brother. Perhaps another day. Again. There were other current important matters. She would look at the both of them in reassurance. “I don’t mind. Really. It's for a good cause. So let’s do this.”

Lanara didn’t mean to make Kyori feel bad, but she looks at the male closely and can see that he doesn’t have any significant coin or valuables. This sword must really mean a lot to him, she thinks, but he could very well just go to the nearest weapon shop and purchase a new one. She’s about to open her mouth and offer to treat the spellblade to a new sword, because Lanara and Tiber’s bank account wouldn’t feel any loss as they are wealthy. She stops herself from further commenting when he suggests that he will trade Zeth, and she scowls, mildly irritated with the boy. Penelope reaches up to clasp the pendant about her neck and offers up a story about her family, the heirloom meant to be a trade, and Lana shakes her head. “You don’t have to do that, Nel.” It’s just an insignificant sword, right?! “I have about a hundred gold on me now, maybe we can use that as a down payment and I can return later with whatever the agreed amount is?” She won’t part with her pentacle, and she’s shocked that Nel is willing to give up a piece of history, but she -is- pregnant with Kyori’s baby. Perhaps the pregnancy is causing such emotion? Or maybe this sword has much more value than the couple is letting on? Since when do they keep secrets from the witch?! Lana hears the yowling of a large feline somewhere in the distance, and her gaze immediately trails to the tops of the trees, as she uses her enhanced senses to locate the cougar. It’s nothing that she can’t handle, but she’d rather not test faith with her two companions that are relying on her for protection. “Let’s get going, I’d like us to be out of here before dark, because things can get a little scary in this particular forest…” Kyori and Nel can decide which route to take, be it Lana’s gold, or Nel’s amulet, or comically, Kyori’s simple stone friend. “Let’s just hope Vivi doesn’t want the blood of your first child…” She’s only half joking, because witches are known for expecting sacrifices as a means of bartering, but Lana hopes that it doesn’t come to that, because she really doesn’t want to have to slay a fellow practitioner of the craft. The trees close in on them and it seems as though they’ve been swallowed by their surroundings, the perfect camouflage, however, it seems that the one they seek already knows of their arrival. Lana points to a small cabin ahead, spooky vibes emitting from the exterior, as a lone candle flickers in the window and the front door creaks open on it’s own accord. “It’s not too late to turn back, Coyote…”

Kyori objects to Penelope’s plan immediately. “No way.” An heirloom? Penelope, no? One minute she jokes about him ‘putting a ring on it’ and now she’s offering to trade an heirloom? No. It destroys him to suggest this. “Pen,” he says gently and shakes the ringing out of his ears again. “What about the ring?” She could trade it and he’d scrape together money to buy it back. The value of the ring wasn’t locked in the appearance and the functionality was lost with his sword. “I’ll buy it back.” He’s useless. Lanara’s shock makes him blink. “Lana, the sword means everything to me.” They could get into the specifics later. “It’s irreplaceable.” Also an heirloom. Sapphire eyes follow the noise up into the tree. This place was horrible. He hates Enchantment. He’s pissed off. Their world moves and shifts with magic and he struggles to balance but stands. “There’s no turning back.” His voice is low. A brand of seriousness he didn’t slip into easily. If he had to die to get the sword back in the hands of people who would protect it, he wouldn’t think twice. “I’ll go first.” But he’s already magically three paces away from them. Two more steps and he’s inside. The air’s thick with magic and smoke. A bird shrieks somewhere in the house, the sound’s disorienting in the small space. “Vivi I presume?” A witch this powerful was going to be trouble. Any magic user would tell his sword was more than just shiny rocks and sharp steel. A figure looms just out of sight, watching him the way a cat might watch a blind mouse. “I need help finding something…” and he’d pay in blood to get it. The woman waves her hand and the cabin door tries to slam shut behind him.

The Ardelian frowned at each of her friends. “You two would give up things for me, right? At least, that’s what your big mouths always say.” Now, blunt Penelope slips out. Lanara might confuse it as ‘hormones’, but Kyori gets the whole stubborn aspect of the twin girl. The ring is mentioned, and the girl looks down. “But isn’t the whole point to get the whole sword back?” There was something that Lanara was missing. “We’re not giving up the stone. We’re giving -this- up. And I’ll scrape the money to find it because it’s -my- choice.” She talks of her pendant. The three venture beyond, and if the battle continues on what needs to be given, well, they will figure it out on the spot. When Lanara makes the comment about the blood of children, Nel curls in her lips to bite back the laugh, but visibly to Lanara it may look like nerves. Though, once they inch closer and closer and Kyori says there is no turning back, a nervous hand rises up to her collarbone in agitation. Build up tension and anticipation also made her feel like she had to pee. Nerves do weird things. Once Kyori is ahead. “Think clearly, Ky,” but he is already paced ahead of the Ardelian and the Kelvarian, and once he is inside, with the door attempting to slam shut behind him. “Damnit, Kyori! Stop being so impulsive!” Nel takes the sprint on first until she is up the steps and catches the door before it closes completely. Any witch might be fearful of strangers crossing boundaries. The force presses and eventually roots begin to travel up the steps to help push the door open. “Lanara, a little help, eh? Sure this is your friend Vivi's house?"

Lanara’s eyes widen at the mention of a ring, and she pointedly glances at Nel’s hand, as though she’s expecting an engagement ring to pop out of thin air. How long have they been hiding their love? Why did they keep her in the dark? She supports them and loves them both, so she’s a little affronted as to why they went and made a baby and gotten engaged, but never mouthed even a hint in her direction! Lana feels conflicted as she doesn’t want to be here anymore since both of her friends have been lying to her this entire time, but she also doesn’t want to abandon them in the dark forest with a powerful witch waiting a few yards away. As she stands there being all indecisive, Kyori manages to sprint into the home, and the door nearly seals shut but Nel is struggling to keep it ajar with her magic. The witch isn’t amused by this latest development, and she’s just about heard enough talk involving babies, swords, and rings! Nel doesn’t even realize that her best friend is angry when she asks for assistance, and Lana is more than happy to help, even if it’s a tad overkill. Lifting both of her hands, she calls upon the power of wind, and a small cyclone of leaves, twigs, and debris circles Vivi’s home. Nel’s branches are sucked up into the vortex, as well as the trembling door, as the windows shatter and the siding on the front of the home splinters. The spooky house wasn’t all that welcoming to begin with, and even less so now that Lana had angrily hurled her powers against it’s foundation. The cyclone gets daringly close to Nel, but the witch is in command, and it swerves to the left and after running its course, it dissipates. Lana sighs dramatically and shakes her head, before she stomps up the front steps and over the threshold, into the darkness that awaits. Now that the three of them are in the home, their eyes have to adjust, as the lone candle has been snuffed out during the mini tornado. “Vivi. Is that anyway to welcome an old friend?!” Crossing her arms, Lana extends her hand and a small glowing sphere illuminates the room, as well as the woman that sits in a rocking chair with her back to them. The chair continues to rock back and forth, heels clicking against the floorboards, and a black cat studies them with curiosity. Lana motions for Nel and Kyori to stand close to her, so that if Vivi issues an attack, she can at least counter with a protective shield.

Kyori hears Penelope’s voice yelling at him, then Lanara. He feels the wind, hears the crack of roots and splintering glass but his sapphire eyes are transfixed on the homeowner by a force he isn’t sure is his own. If he could read Lanara’s mind, he’d feel horrible about upsetting her with the joke that had gone on too long. It was a tease turned into something harmful and neither Penelope or Kyori wanted to hurt her with it. If he had the frame of mind to think about that. A lot of ‘ifs’ to consider while he’s frozen with the two women at his side. The spellblade tries to tell Lana he can’t move but…he can’t move. Even his mouth is locked tight. He’s been muzzled. He stares at the black cat like it has answers to this experience but it only continues to lurk and stare and at one point chirp an inquiry. He’s not sure if it’s at them or who he assumes is it’s master. “Lanara” sings the shadowy figure. “It’s only a precaution dear, what with a warlock being here and all.” Kyori narrows his eyes. Oh look he can do that! It sounds disgusting coming out of her mouth. The figure in the rocking chair stops and stands, back still towards them while the black cat hops away and rubs against Vivi’s leg. Is it time for food!? “I recognized him immediately. He’s the one who caused that ruckus at the festival. You can’t think I’d let some wild man in here throwing punches and magic and who knows what else kind of tantrum men love to throw.” Vivi turns, studying them with unnatural precision. “Brutes, the lot of them. But you, dear, look wonderful.” Her smile is slimy and off in a way Kyori can’t figure out. “And who is your friend? Isn’t she precious?” Her eyes fall on Kyori again with a scowl. “Let’s just put this away for now.” She flicks her wrist and Kyori’s frozen body is pushed back against the wall next to the doorless entrance and glassless windows. “To what do I owe this marvelously unexpected visit?” Kyori finds this utterly ridiculous, considering he is the least armed of the magic users here but he's not at liberty to voice this opinion.

Penelope has no idea about Lanara’s feelings... first. Though, the strong gust of wind knocks the Ardelian some as the door is ripped off the home. What is with her bestie? Did Kyori rile Lanara up this badly for not listening and just going forth in a hurry? Because, yeah, it was kind of ridiculous of him, but like… what was -that-?! Lanara does not even address her friend as she stomps up the steps, and Penelope is staring at Lanara all windblown. “What the–” Green eyes blink at her bestie who is stomping up the steps. Perhaps they were entering the home with purpose? Yeah, they can be ‘strong’ too. Is that the message Lana is giving off to scare Vivi? The Ardelian is going to assume so. Sass was powerful, but did sass not cause Kyori to be frozen and thrown against a wall? Penelope is clueless, and that ring even sits on the right ring finger. The girl has no more time to think because Kyori is frozen in the room and Vivi is controlling it and recognizing who Kyori is. The situation is a little hard to keep up on, but Kyori did storm into the witch’s home without thinking rationally. Plus there was a past situation of throwing punches at a festival? Impulsive. Despite the history, Nel frowns at Vivi handling Kyori in such a way. “I don’t think that’s -really- necessary,” the healer begins to speak, but really, this witch seemed strong. The Ardelian takes the cautious approach rather than the brooding, “Hey, I’m Penelope. Sorry for the rude entry,” she looks over her shoulder at her fake baby-daddy. She squints at him, which hopefully gives the hint that he should have used his brain. “I think you know my apprentice, Ruari Erickson? Um,” duh, Vivi was hired as one of the nurses to care for the spellblade. “Look, we’re just here for patient belongings. I’m sure you were putting a certain sword in safe-keeping?” Penelope likes to see the best in people and kill people with kindness first, really, so it is good not to assume Vivi did anything nasty with the sword. Do not want to rile the witch up more, right? Unless she -did- do something nasty with the sword, then the nice tiptoeing might wear off.

Lanara stands rooted in place, not the least bit bothered by the extreme show of magical force that Vivi has used to hurl Kyori against a wall, or from the mildly taunting words. She will not take the bait, and this witch may be powerful, but in a few minutes Lanara is about to stop playing nice and up the ante. One of her great aunts was rumored to have dropped a house on a fellow witch over a pair of shoes, and she would be proud to repeat history! The black cat seems drawn to her for a few moments, but there’s something wrong with it, as though an ominous force inhabits its form. It walks in a jerkish manner, and it dawns on Lanara that the four legged bundle of fur isn’t merely a cat. She blurts out, “You turned your own sister into a cat?!” Eliyen isn’t estranged, as she has had everyone believe, she had turned the woman into a house pet! Vivi cackles and claps her hands together, her vibrant green eyes sparkling, as though she just heard the most hilarious joke, “Very good, Lanara! I always knew there was more to you than that pretty face. So what? Have you come here to judge me? You, of -all- witches, should know better! After all, you turned your grandfather into a squirrel, and your dau-” She clips her words and her eyes half close in satisfaction at seeing Lana flinch from the memory of Natianara, but she doesn’t reveal her big secret at this moment. Does Vivi have the gift of Sight or is it possible that she unveiled the mystery of the Sword and spoke with the dead? The cat hisses at Penelope and Vivi laughs at her apology and inquiry, “I enjoy toying with your little warlock boyfriend. Don’t you prefer him quiet and pinned against a wall? I thought you would appreciate that little show, but maybe I should do more?” She casts an icy glare at Kyori, before her head whips to peer at Nel again, “You have power, Child. But you haven’t reached your full potential. If you truly wish to conquer with your magic, you should consider being my apprentice!” The mention of the sword is met with a shrug, “I -had- the sword, yes, but it’s no longer in my possession.” She pauses, her pale skin glowing, even in the surrounding darkness, “I know where it is, but I’m not telling, unless you complete three tasks for me.” She rakes her impossibly long nails through her pitch black locks and gives them all a sinister smile, “How badly do you want that sword back?”

Kyori’s muted but he’s not deaf. What did that witch say about Nat? What happened to Nat? Did Lanara really do something to Nat? She’d never. That was her daughter. This witch was crazy. Vivi calls him Penelope’s boyfriend, which isn’t really true it was just a joke, so he doesn’t think Vivi knows everything. Since Kyori’s not at liberty to talk yet he’s just screaming through his intensely wide eyes. When Vivi asks how badly they wanted the sword back, her spell lessens enough to let him speak. “I’ll do anything!” He screams, contrary to the calm, collected man he presents himself to be. Lana, Kyori swears he’ll fill you in later, cross his stupid heart, but he’s got to get that sword back. Vivi’s grin is sickenly twisted. He hates himself for it, knows that was what she wanted to hear, but he can’t risk having her lose interest in them. “Anything.” He repeats, quiet and resolved to do what she asks. He can’t fathom that she’d ask them for something impossible. He should have, but he doesn’t. The spellblade’s tunnel vision will sink the ship if he’s allowed to talk more. Vivi snaps her fingers and he’s frozen again. “Seems your little boytoy is eager to get underway. Let’s just shut him up before he takes that back, shall we?” Kyori doesn’t care that she turned her sister into a cat. He almost immediately forgets about what Vivi said about Nat because it isn’t true. Nothing this witch was saying was true. They’d have to find a way to make sure she doesn’t go back on their deal. Lana looks like she knows what she’s doing. Penelope looks a little sheepish and thrown off guard. Just like he’d predicted, he’s utterly useless to help them.

(Post 1 of 2) Penelope :: The killing people with kindness trope is not working. Gosh, evil witches, man–Nel barely knew them, but she was starting to get the gist by Vivi. Vivi and Lanara were friends? The little Ardelian off-put for a moment. “Okay,” Nel has a little attitude forming in her tone from digesting the friendly rejection. She definitely had her customer-service skills severed before by ruthless patients that did not have time for kindness. Smile, Penelope. No, who turns their own sibling into an animal? This was not settling well in the pit of her belly. And when Vivi is about to taint the room with Natianara? The healer is giving the girlish death glare to Genevieve. What the hell? Who brings up a mother’s deceased daughter, anyway? Nel did not know specifics, as Lanara did not know much of Penelope’s specifics either. Soon. Soon she would know some. Penelope shifts her gaze to Kyori discreetly at that moment, but she is clipped as she does not want to cause a staring ruckus, and she does not know much–only plague. So much was hidden–similar friends in that sense. The spellblade would be nosy enough when the time came. When the cat hisses Penelope's way, her lips twitch. ‘I enjoy toying with your warlock boyfriend’... what? Did the woman just hear the clear joke of kids outside the door and make an assumption? It digs in Penelope’s skin uneasily to put that kind of label on anyone. Was this witch lycan too? Celeste and Lanara were really giving Pen insight on behaviors. Hearing. That observant girl. She casts her juniper gaze to Kyori who is pinned. The witch has Nel all wrong. She was -jesting- about the scandalous baby talk--especially for a man who needed answers to a majority of things, plus she is not clear headed. “I get he does doofy things, but just leave it alone,” okay, well there was Nel’s two cents of the man she bounced off of easily. When the witch talks of the druid's abilities, well, Nel casts her gaze to the side. To learn from a witch that seems so tainted suggesting apprenticeship, well, the freckled girl’s morals are pulled. Knowledge of magic. Knowledge against the good of heart? Nel was feeling like red cliche, but... she knows she can resist darkness. As she has touched it before. Witnessed the... no, no, don't think of that.

(Post 2 of 2) Three tasks. That was what Genevieve Limberton wanted. Penny looks straight-faced as Kyori gives in. She knows that there is a reason the man was so intense to get the sword back. The ring would itch bad on her finger. Like an allergy. Especially when he did not have it. Her finger was pulsing. Red. The girl ignored the side-effect like a bad doctor. This freaking Wicked Wanda Witch. Penelope does not say anything, as this was Kyori’s bidding, but she knows whatever he chooses, she is by his side. Eyes shift off to the side when he is mentioned as a ‘boytoy’. She was not sure what the man was as he randomly reappeared. Even if she was there when he woke for the.. third time? And that he helped her with a tree. Bantered about hypothetical babies... (yikes?) The Ardelian feels uneasy at the flimsy little term the witch gives–as she knows that despite the joke, Kyori has a decent heart somewhere for whatever the sword meant to him. His own story. “First of all, you will abide by these three tasks,” the witch motions her fingers in that creepily, cliche way. Was this really… Vivi? In a sense, the Ardelian perks up like the serious woman she was. The magical, intense woman continues. “A drop of crimson from the undead… preferably a vampire.” Genevieve likes the game and the cat howls up at that moment. Creating an eeriness. “The gift of a toadstool. I hope it’s in the most moist environments. Glowing. And…” she pauses. “I call for unicorn hair as I have future plans.” Would Kyori be able to tame such a creature on his own? “You bring me these, boy, you get your precious little idea of a sword.”

Lanara doesn’t react when Kyori pleads with Genevieve, literally blurting out that he will do -anything- to have his sword returned, even if it costs his soul. She knows they aren’t speaking with her old witchy friend, because Vivi was kind of heart and wouldn’t hurt a fly. Plus, Vivi’s magic didn’t have a touch of darkness, as she promoted healing and kindness. Something or someone is inhabiting her shell, of this she’s certain, and she feels as though she’s in the worst possible position. Help Vivi and risk Kyori ever seeing his sword again? Or help Kyori and deal with this sham of a witch -after- they have the sword? Nel is still trying to be polite and it falls on deaf ears, as faux-Vivi is enjoying their discomfort, because they are putty in her palms. They should know better than to make a deal with the devil, but it’s not her call. She’s only here to support her friends, and if things head south, well, she doesn’t want to think about that. Lanara’s eyes take on a metallic sheen when that third ingredient is mentioned, because in order to get the hair from a unicorn, it must be killed. All of her magical and empathic abilities are worthless, as a hair from the tail of a unicorn must be -given- and not taken, otherwise the spell will not work. It pains Lana to think of a unicorn dying and offering a few of its hairs, and she feels as though she’s been struck in the heart with that missing sword. Angrily, she snarls, “You are doing a soul binding ritual!? What have you done with Vivi?! -Where- is my friend?” The face of Vivi contorts and she cackles, “Oh Lana. You kill me with all your questions! That answer isn’t up for grabs today and will cost far more than three simple tasks, so I suggest you remain polite like your pretty friend over here. Take the warlock with you and don’t come back until you have all of the items. I’ll be waiting!” Faux-Vivi snaps her fingers and undoes the spell that silences Kyori, “You’ve outstayed your welcome.” The woman and the cat turn and head into the adjoining room, as she tauntingly chants, “Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.”