❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[notwagging]

That's the right answer.

[ because why would anyone do something like that, other than for selfish reasons? and he's familiar with something like Ren's reaction: it's honest, it doesn't feel like he's trying to pull the wool over the wolfskin's eyes, and he... rather likes it. not that he likes whatever is making Ren act like that (he certainly dislikes seeing unhappy people), but...

anyway.

he sits down on the bed, hands in his lap. his tail smacks the bed in anticipation. ]

[thedarkbond]

[Ren has a sneaking suspicion he might know what kind of reaction the "wrong answer" would have gotten, though he sets it aside for now. Once the immediate topic has passed, he lets his fingers uncurl and rest more naturally in his lap. It's the wrong time to present that particular face to anyone here, even if he doesn't imagine this man would have a problem with it in these circumstances.

It's hard to stop himself from smiling when Keaton's tail starts thumping the bed, though, and he tucks his hair behind one ear so it doesn't trail down in some annoying way if he needs to lean forward.]

Well, tell me if I do anything wrong, then. [With that tilt back to a cheery tone, he reaches one hand out to gently touch and stroke at one ear. Ren's not as strongly aware of personal space as some humans, but ears are sensitive, so he doesn't want to be too incautious until he has some idea of the reaction he'll get.]

[notwagging]

[ big ol' puppy dog eyes and sniffles is what he would've gotten. maybe. despite having a wonderful relationship with so many humans, it doesn't mean he lost his pointy teeth or his gloved fists... or his Beaststone, which would certainly complicate things!

but that's not the problem now. there is no problem--- in fact, he's simply elated to have Ren be part of the 'don't hurt Keaton' club. ]

Eh, I'm not worried. [ he doesn't have a hose or a bathtub, so he's pretty sure he's safe. a surprise bath would probably hurt his feelings more than anything right now, especially after having taken SO MANY (read: one?) in the past week or so.

and he leans into the stroke, looking at Ren carefully with one open eye while the other stays closed. ]

I'm guessing you've never seen anything like me before, huh.

[ he's no Mythic Beast Fenrir, but. hey. ]

[thedarkbond]

[Thankfully, Ren is the kind of person who's absent-minded enough to probably forget to bathe himself under the right circumstances, let alone doing it to someone else. So no surprise baths here, just happy ear touching.

When Keaton leans into the motion, Ren takes that as a sign that he's doing fine so far, and his fingers move a little more confidently. It's still quite gentle, but he seems more at ease that he's not about to accidentally do something unpleasant.

His expression takes on a somewhat thoughtful note at Keaton's remark, and he glances up to the ceiling as he considers how to answer.]

I guess it wouldn't be right to say I've never seen anything like you...but I've never gotten the chance to meet someone like you before. It's a little bit hard to explain, but it's nice to have the chance to talk. And feel how soft your ears are~

[He's still definitely very pleased about that part. Some people would probably find it a bit weirder than he does, what with personal space reservations, but Ren doesn't really mind as long as it's not bothering Keaton, since he thinks it's fun.]

[notwagging]

Heh. They're soft because they don't get overwashed. I know some who would bathe every day, but honestly... who does that.

[ a little pettiness, but after it runs its course, he's more than happy to close that other eye and let out a sigh of relief. he's confident that there's no danger coming his way now, especially giving Ren more than enough time to take advantage of him--- and yet, nothing! nothing bad at all. how lucky Keaton is, to find a room with such a kind person behind its door. ]

So you like wolves, then?

[ with a sigh, he continues to lean forward--- to the point of resting his forehead against Ren's shoulder. ]

[thedarkbond]

[Ren laughs a little at that.] Well, humans mostly do, but we probably feel different about it. And sometimes we need to, as well. I think my hair wouldn't do very well without washing at least most days...

[It's extremely long and very thick, which is never a great combination for hair if one doesn't want to trouble themselves too much having to maintain it. Ren doesn't mind, but it would probably get harder very quickly with less washing.

Ren blinks slightly when Keaton rests himself against his shoulder, but he just laughs quietly and reaches his other hand up to touch Keaton's other ear too while he's in easy reach.]

I do. They're beautiful and strong, and I'm pretty fond of that combination... [Ren doesn't have a great deal of shame or reservation about what traits he likes, though he at least refrains from putting "strong" before "beautiful".]

[notwagging]

[ cracking one eye open so he could look at Ren's hair, he nods slightly while continuing to rest his head. ]

Yeah, it's long... it reminds me of some people from home. Long hair, but even longer swords. One human in particular made sure to keep it tied up so it wouldn't get in his face.

[ for whatever reason he had to trust this man, he couldn't say--- perhaps it was just his need to rest after a long trek, or the smallest desire to have company after stressful times on the station? ]

Do you use a sword?

[thedarkbond]

[Ren's fingers twitch momentarily at the question, though it's in the manner of someone shown something confronting they didn't expect. He has used a sword, technically speaking, but the circumstances in which he's used one isn't something he thinks he can discuss right now without letting a lot more of his feelings slip than he'd like to.]

I know a little bit about how to use one, but they're not really used in my world except for people who fight for sport. If I did more things like that, though, I probably would need to tie my hair up for it...

[Safe enough answer - he prefers not to lie outright if he doesn't have to, just half-truth, and this is enough of the truth to be accurate while not having to touch on the sensitive parts of the subject.]

[notwagging]

Oh... okay. Makes sense.

[ he can't think anything else of it. not all worlds are like his, and he's come to terms with that a while ago. but it makes him happy not all of them are filled with danger, wars, and showers. ]

For sport? Like for money? [ he pulls back a little, not out of dislike of Ren's affection, but more to just stretch and reposition himself so he could be more comfortable. ]

I like your hair as is. It looks... nice.

[thedarkbond]

Sometimes, though it's only the really professional people who get money for it...I think more people do the sport as a hobby. [Ren's happy to let Keaton rearrange himself as he likes, though he's probably only going to stop touching his ears as long as he has to for Keaton to make himself comfortable. His fur feels nice, and he's the kind of person who generally needs something to do with his fingers or he fidgets (assuming he's not straight-up failing to sit still for more than five seconds at a time).

He smiles widely at Keaton's remark on his hair, though, tilting his head so one of his long forelocks slips down from where he's had it over his shoulder.]

Doesn't it? I don't usually wear it up unless I have to, which was mostly when I was younger and they always made me do it at school...

[Loose long hair on a boy at a rather traditionalist private school didn't exactly go down all that well, even if Ren owned the company that helped the school pull in students by virtue of association.]

Your hair is cute too. It's very fluffy~

[notwagging]

[ oh, Ren's hair... that one long lock does get his attention and Keaton bites his bottom lip to keep himself from reaching up and touching it. that hair is long, looks soft, and though it's not something that Keaton would normally stow away in a pocket and save it as a treasure, he might've reconsidered his normal habitual pick ups of bugs, hides, and normally 'gross' things.

and again, he leans back in. comfortable. ]

Heh, cute? It's cool too, right? [ that stark contrast of shades, perfect and neat, hair actually tidy for once. the guy is lucky to catch Keaton this way. it's not normally like this, after all. ]

My name's Keaton, by the way. Uh... sorry for kinda bothering you in here, but I guess I'm lucky I ran into you the way I did.

[thedarkbond]

It can be cool and cute at the same time. [Ren's just. Going to go back to touching Keaton's ears now, because it seems like he's settled himself down again pretty comfortably. He personally doesn't see the problem with being seen as cute, but he knows some people can get touchy about it, and it's not like it isn't also cool...

Keaton's introduction makes Ren blink slightly in surprise, though, as if he hadn't even realised he'd forgotten to introduce himself.]

Oh, whoops, that was kind of rude of me...I'm Suzugamori Ren, but just call me Ren. And I'm pretty okay with being bothered by people with soft wolf ears that they're nice about letting me play with, so we'll call it even~

[notwagging]

[ he tries to mouth out Ren's family name, but it's just a little beyond him despite just hearing it. it's much easier to just say Ren and it fits him, too--- clearly trustworthy and willing to pat his ears without tugging them or on his fur or on his tail or... ]

Cool and cute? At the same time? [ a novel concept! ] But wait, does this mean you've seen other people with wolf ears that isn't me?!

[ that would also be incredible. but for now? back to enjoying the pets and wagging his tail at a steady and quick pace. ]

[thedarkbond]

That's right~ [On both fronts, but Ren doesn't bother clarifying that.] Though technically the other one I've seen here was completely a wolf, not a wolf person...but she still thinks like a person, anyway, so I guess it counts.

[Amaterasu is a bit of a confusing case there, but Ren's sure Keaton will figure it out if they meet. For now, though, the continued movement of Keaton's tail is a little bit distracting, and Ren smiles a little at it.]

Does it feel good to wag your tail like that?

[notwagging]

[ gasp, a wolf-wolf? those are almost unheard of where he comes from! but that will certainly require some investigation at some point... just not now.

but upon hearing about it, the tail immediately stops and curls. ]

Huh? Oh... was it wagging? I don't think it was.

[ looking around nervously, Keaton shakes his head. ]

Nope. It totally wasn't.

[ his tail is clearly a traitor. ]

[thedarkbond]

[That reaction makes Ren's smile even wider, and faintly amused, but apparently it's some kind of point of embarrassment or self-consciousness, so he'll roll with it. And set the information aside for later, maybe.

He can't hold a hand to his chin when he's busy touching Keaton's ears still, so he settles himself for an exaggerated thoughtful pout.]

Oh really? Maybe I was seeing things, then... [Clearly he's actually unsure and not just going along with the line of conversation.]

Would it feel good, though? [He can still ask the question, probably.]

[notwagging]

[ whew. that was close. for a second, he thought he might've outed the biggest wolfskin secret of them all... or at least his own. normally he'd play a little hard to get, a little less on the nose, but it's been difficult when everything about Nadril is so new! ]

Maybe. [ shifty-eyed, Keaton allows the smallest and thinnest of smiles. ] It might feel really good... anything that gets a tail to wag is probably something worth doing over and over again.

[ so maybe that tail does twitch once or twice. then again. and again. ]

[thedarkbond]

Oh? [Ren's eyes flick to Keaton's tail as it starts moving again, though he makes himself stop following the motion after a few moments for the sake of letting Keaton think his Very Convincing Denial was successful.] Well, I'll have to make sure to remember that if I ever make your tail wag~

[If playing with Keaton's ears makes his tail wag, Ren is absolutely fine with doing it again at some point. Running his fingers through the fur makes something occur to him somewhat belatedly, though, and he takes on a thoughtful look.]

Do you brush your hair much...? [Considering Keaton's opinion on baths, it seems possible that he doesn't, but it'd be kind of a shame for someone with so much hair to not be familiar with the feeling.]

[notwagging]

Nah. That's a kitsune thing. [ said proudly, as he shakes his head a little from side-to-side. thankfully for Ren, he recently had a bath of some kind, so his fur is missing the usual dust and mess that it'd normally hold. ] I don't think I have a brush at all in my caves at home or here.

[ brushes are so... boring??? ]

Why? Is there something wrong with it?

[ with a tilt of the head, everything kind of shifts to the side. but he's not terribly concerned about his own status. more of Ren's, than anything else. ]

[thedarkbond]

[Excuse Ren while he briefly looks equally as delighted as he did earlier at the idea that Keaton's world has kitsune as well. He really wants to meet someone like that while he's here too, if any of them are awake...

He's snapped out of that distraction by the question, though, and waves a hand airily like it's not a big deal.]

No, it's just that I always think having your hair brushed feels really good. So I was wondering if you did it a lot, but it sounds like it's not really your kind of thing...

[It's a bit of a shame, but Ren's not here to judge (or at least not judge over something that minor when he's still having a whale of a time here).]

[notwagging]

No, it's... uh, I guess I don't dislike it. Maybe I just haven't ran into someone who's really good at it yet.

[ because no one really brushed his fur in the past, and even getting offers really turned Keaton off of it. but now? Ren's hair looks like he takes good care of it, and though his isn't as long, maybe he knows how to deal with the knots that come with long days of rolling in farm soil. ]

You could try sometime, if I'm in the mood.

[ his tail, which had been thoughtfully thumping, is back whipping against the bed again. ]

[thedarkbond]

[That's a good enough answer for Ren, who seems quite pleased at the prospect - both the fact that he seems to have gotten Keaton to consider something he looked proud of not doing and the idea of getting to do that. And the fact that Keaton's tail is wagging again.]

I'll have to ask again sometime, then~ [Though he blinks momentarily and looks around them as if just remembering where they are.] Maybe once we're out of this place, though...it's pretty easy for people to walk in on stuff here...

[Keaton kind of made that point earlier by walking in, but interrupting stuff like that takes the good, calm element out of it that Ren enjoys.]

Oh, and I might have time to get better stuff for it by then as well. [Having the right equipment is important.]

[notwagging]

You think? [ despite doing the same, it feels like only a thing a silly animal would do instead of people with modesty. but regardless, he's just... happy to kind of close his eyes and enjoy himself. there hasn't been a lot of time for that recently, and it had been a while since he got pats... ]

Better stuff! [ that's got his attention for sure. ] Maybe I can help you find some of that stuff, too. I'm good at stuff.

[thedarkbond]

We're all staying in the same place, so I do think people might get confused about what room they're in. I know I probably will. [Ren smiles in that not-quite-apologetic manner. He gets lost pretty easily, so he could definitely see himself being the person to walk in on others while they're still here.

The prospect of additional stuff is a delightful one to talk about, though, even if Ren looks slightly more amused at Keaton's choice of answer.]

Well, it'll mostly be what I hope would be pretty easy stuff like a good brush and comb...though I don't know what kinds of things they use to clean hair in this world, so you might even know more about that than me...

[There's a slightly pouty thoughtful frown as he considers that fact.]

[notwagging]

... brush and comb... oh! Oh. I had a few hidden in my cave, back in Wyver. But I don't know if I'll ever get to them. [ he starts to look up and away into space, those ears drooping as he thinks. ] I wonder if that dragon blew it up? Or covered it in its blood or fire? That'd kind of ruin everything.

[ but instead of becoming upset, once he locks eyes back on Ren, he's all smiles. ]

But it means I can look for more treasures. Dunno about this place, though.

[ oh? that pout. is he that upset about no hair care products being readily available?! ]

I'm sure there's stuff you're used to. There's plenty of other refugees that like to bathe.