| A Summer Wolf | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary: Robin comes across a new arrival and shows her a little bit about the city Who: Alberto, Gonfei, Rainbow Dash, Robin C, Summer When: September 12th, 2017 Where: Mizuzashi Road, The Usual Restaurant     |
As the day has worn into the afternoon, a newcomer has been left completely lost in this place. As it is, she's just kind of staring in something akin to disbelief at pretty much everything around her, though not necessarily for the reasons some might think. Her tails swish and swirl, a good indicator of agitation, but not aggression, at least for now. Robin looks up at the woman (emphasis on 'up') as he rounds the corner and blinks. "Uhhh... Are you... lost?" he asks based on the expression on her face, but clearly not entirely certain he's reading her right. Still, he's quite certain he's not run into this particular individual before. He's pretty sure he'd remember her. . o O ( Man, this city has some really tall women in it! ) There was that black winged woman, as well as that woman with the two giant swords. And he's pretty sure he's seen another red-head with glasses at one point... come to think of it, this is the first woman taller than him he's come across that wasn't a red-head... The girl turns to the voice, ears going up. "....You could say that." she says slowly. "I...have been to other worlds before, but never with science Unbound like this." she says, gesturing around. "The stranger thing is that this...seems to be Earth. Or some version of it. Earth with Science and Technology in Ascendancy is something I never would have imagined possible on its own." Robin blinks again as he tries to make sense of that. "Well... yeah, I get that, actually... My world doesn't have this kind of technology, either." Clearly, though, he's gotten used to it, given his clothes look completely modern. "But... mine wasn't called Earth." He then pauses and glances to the side. "...Unless scholars or something called it that. I just called it the world." He then shakes his head. "Um, but, yeah! Science and Technology in Ascendancy! It's really great. I'm finding most stuff to be way better here than it was back in my homeworld! Except, you know, the air and stars." "...You have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about do you?" the wolfgirl deadpans, ears lowering about halfway. She chuckles. "I must sound like a complete lunatic to anyone who's from here, huh?" Robin frowns and pauses. "I'm not making fun of you," he says, sounding a little hurt. "I'm serious, my world didn't have any electricity or any of that stuff. We had plenty of wizards and such, but... magic can't do what the technology here does. Or at least they didn't figure out as many useful ways to use it that don't cost an arm and a leg. But... like I said." He points a thumb at his chest. "I'm not from here, either. So I'm guessing I sounded a bit like a lunatic, too... but then again, people that have been around here a while get kinda used to people showing up from different worlds, you know? It's... not that new, actually." That draws a light smile. "Sorry. I just...when I first showed up here, I almost got run over by a....I THINK the general term is cars, if I remember the old Histories right. Technology exists on most worlds I've been to, but heavily Bound thanks to what happened centuries ago. It's...hard to explain without...being there, I suppose." She offers a friendly smile though. "I heard you a minute or two ago." she taps one of those lupine ears. "Something about adventuring?" Robin looks slightly confused for a moment. "Wait... your world had this level of technology, then get rid of it? Why?" Clearly this former denizen of a medieval world has taken a liking to technology! "And yes, cars sounds right. Unless it was a big one, those are called trucks. Or sometimes vans." He says this like it's actually useful information, in a way that suggests it took him a while to get the hang of the difference, himself... if he really has mastered the difference between a van and a truck at all, that is. He does, however, seem a bit taken aback about the fact that she apparently overheard him, and glances backwards a brief moment at where he was when he said it. . o o ( I guess those ears aren't just for show. I wonder if Bridget and Xiaomu can hear that well, too? ) "Oh, uh, yeah, I was an adventurer back in my world. Here, though, there's enough to do just in this city... but it doesn't pay as well... or at all, so I have to keep a regular job." Summer sighs. "There's...some very convoluted history behind where I'm from I think. I'm not from earth, for one. And Earth, if the Histories I've read are to be trusted, did NOT allow Magic to Ascend willingly." Then she chuckles. "And I just realized how rude I've been." she makes a very odd gesture, clearly some form of ritualized greeting. "Summer. Knight of Teknoria." Robin blinks at the gesture, then mimics it as best as he can. "Robin Caldworth. Former Adventurer, current waiter. And if magic can do the things in that world that technology can do in this one... I'd guess the world would at least smell a bit fresher. The smoke from these cars gets to me some days. But I'd guess you'd still have trouble seeing the stars at night. Someone once told me that was because of how much light is in the city, not something messed up about the air." Summer gives a wry grin. "Hmm, most people from the Earth in my universe would probably disagree." She ponders a moment. "Assuming that I am indeed in an alternate reality. That blue....flying horse thing seemed to indicate it was a thing here." she frowns and shrugs. Then chuckles. "Thank you for trying with the Order's greeting by the way, but it's only required for those Knights sworn to it. Still, I can't deny it was sweet. So, Robin, you're working in a tavern then? That's...kind of a step down from travelling and adventuring, isn't it?" Robin raises an eyebrow at the comment about disagreeing. "...I take it things weren't going so well, then?" His eyes do light up with recognition of the description. "With a rainbow colored mane? That's Rainbow Dash, yeah! She's a friend of mine." He hold up his left hand, showing the string 'bracelet' with the cyan feather tied to it, recognizable in color to being possibly from Rainbow Dash's wings. He glances away as Summer thanks him for attempting the greeting. "Er, well, uh, yeah, I like to... try to make people feel at home. Especially when they're new in this city. It... it can be an odd experience, I know that personally." He does look back at the mention of the tavern. "Oh... well, yeah, I guess," he says, sounding slightly dejected. "Like I said, though... people don't really pay for the... freelance adventurer thing here, though... So I kind of have to make do with the day job, so to speak. But... I'd not really call it a tavern. There are places like that, like the Usual Restaurant, but the Nekohanten is..." He frowns a bit. "Different. Mostly just food. But I swear there's something really off about the people that run the place, honestly. Still, it's a paycheck." He shrugs at that. "Off? Do I dare ask how so?" Summer cants her head in a wolf-like fashion, tails slowly moving in their own odd little patterns, seemingly on their own volition. Robin glancing off to the side, looking ever so slightly frustrated. "...Okay, so... everyone else here seems to speak the language perfectly... Like... I think to the point that whatever pulls people here makes them speak properly. But not them... Most of them don't have a firm grasp on the language, except the owner. I know I'm the outsider, but they seem to be okay with me there, for the most part. But then there's that one other waitress who keeps trying to get me to fight her. It honestly has me considering quitting and finding another job. I guess the rest of the strangeness... It's probably just their culture and I shouldn't actually complain."
Robin shrugs. "I've yet to figure it out! I've been perfectly polite and nice to Pomade, but she keeps trying to get me to fight her when I leave." He sighs and slumps his shoulders, then looks up again. "Well... Maybe it's worse for you, but I remember another city I was in back in my home world... You get anywhere near the marketplace and it's just as bad there, really. At least no one here yells at you to buy their exotic half-shriveled fruit." Summer's ears go to half mast and she scrunches her nose a bit, trying and failing not to laugh, snorting in amusement a second before she does indeed begin to cackle. "Oh, you should see the markets on Betelgeuse five, Robin. You would have nightmares for weeks, I'm telling you now!" Robin blinks twice, then nods slowly. "I'll.... take your word for it... What kind of a name for a city has a number in it, though, really? What happened to Betelgeuse one through four?" "Nono. Not city. Betelgeuse five is a PLANET." Summer says. "The city itself....was called Weirdwyrm. Don't ask." She snickers. "So, where's a good place to eat around here anyway? I haven't had anything since I got pulled here, and I'd been on the road all day prior to winding up in this world." Robin blinks. Twice. "Planet?" He then tilts his head as he lowers one eyebrow in slight incomprehension. "But... Okay, it's still a weird name for the planet, with the number and all. Why would someone call their world something five?" He frowns at that, then sighs. At least he's just accepting the city's name. Towns sometimes have weird names, and sometimes towns grow into cities. "Oh, uh... Well, I suppose I should try to get you to go to where I work, but honestly, for a newcomer I'd suggest that Usual Restaurant. It was the first place I went to when I was here... A nice dragon took me from the wastelands to the northeast and dropped me off there... they take all kinds of money at that place and their cooks can make just about anything." Summer considers that. "That might help. I have currencies from a few different worlds, so...if they accept multiple currencies till I can get something from here....I wonder if they have any of the foods from my homeworld...?" Robin shrugs lightly, then puts his hands into the front pocket of his hoodie. "Only one way to find out, right? Come on, I'll show you where it is. Can't give you a ride the way Miss Filia did for me, but at least I can guide you." "A ride, huh?" Summer says with a sly smirk. "Do I wanna know?" she teases with a sensual wink. "But seriously, thank you. It'd be nice to get some food in me." Robin blinks, then looks away with a slight blush. "I, uhh..." He looks back up again, looking a lot more defensive now. "She's a dragon! You know, way larger than a car." He glances away again and lets out a slightly frustrated sounding sigh. "Right, but... you'll still have to pay for your own food. I don't have the money to spare right now, unfortunately." Sounds like he definitely doesn't get paid more than his coworker. Once they arive at the Usual Restaurant... "A dragon? Huh. Rare to meet one who can talk." Summer says thoughtfully. "And if money's an issue, don't worry. I can pay for us both if the prices aren't too high." she adds as they walk. Robin raises an eyebrow and looks back to Summer again. "Really? I've never met one that can't talk." He looks back ahead. "Filia's probably the nicest dragon I've ever met. Unfortunately, I ran into Scarblight a few more times. And he was not the nicest dragon I've ever met." The tone of voice suggests that this is a gross understatement, and the uncomfortable look as he reaches to his stomach suggests Robin likely didn't come out the better in one of those encounters. "And... thanks. I don't know how your money matches up, but the Usual is typically pretty decent on cost." And then there they are, and Robin pauses, looking around. "I guess just the bar, huh?" "If it's open, why not?" Summer says with a grin. "Besides, having a handsome man such as yourself for company is hardly the worst thing to deal with in a new place." she adds with a flirty wink and a light dusting of the side by one of her many tails. "Besides, you're one of the only people I've met who've never asked about them." Robin blinks, apparently at a slight loss for a moment, then just looks out at the bar with a definite hint of a blush. "I, um, well, sure, thanks," he says. It seems he doesn't know how to take a complement to his looks at all, apparently unused to being flirted with, at least so openly. "Never asked about... what?" he asks as he almost reluctantly looks back to her when he takes his seat. "...Your... tails? Hey, one of my best friends is a talking pegasus, and you're not the first... wolf-girl I've come across here, either. I mean... The multiple is new, but it's just... a part of you, right? It'd be like if you asked me about my ears." He shrugs at that. "Your ears? You're human, right? Humans are still pretty standard in some worlds. But yeah, there's a reason for the multi-tails. It's just weird you're the first who's never commented on them." She grabs a seat next to him. "So, what's good around here?" Robin nods a few times. "Yeah. That's exactly my point, though. Around here... there's... just different people. Are your tails actually that different? I figured it's just... a thing your people have. I've gotten to that point, I guess, assuming that everyone is normal where they're from. It usually makes them feel better, at least... I think?" He frowns. "I guess if someone likes standing out, though... So, if they're significant... then what is special about them, Summer?" "For one, I'm a wolf. Wolves typically don't have multiple tails." She smirks in amusement. "Unless somewhere out there is a wolf line I've never heard of. No, I have mixed blood, the tails are the result." Robin nods again, pausing for a brief moment before asking, "This is a really long shot, but you don't know a 'Bridget Ceartas', do you? I didn't look too far into her world, but, well, like I said, you're not the first woman with wolf-like features I've met." "Doesn't sound familiar, no." Summer says after a few moments though with a shake of the head, sending her silver tresses flowing like a wave behind her. "So, again, what's good here, other than the company?" she jokes. Robin shrugs. "I didn't think so, but it was worth a shot." He then blinks at the other question. "Ehh? Umm, well... I guess it all depends on your tastes, really, but... well, one of the other bartenders here usually suggests pasta dishes. Calls it 'Italian' food. Uhhh, honestly, I don't eat here all that much... Ever since I've gotten an apartment I tend to actually cook my own meals when I'm not just getting leftover takeout from work..." "Hmm. One thing I have had heard of before, that's supposedly an import from Earth back before the fall of Technology, is bacon. You think it's worth a try?" Robin raises an eyebrow. "Bacon? We had that on my world. Why would the fall of technology make bacon not exist anymore?" He looks actually a bit shocked at that. "What the heck happened on that world?" He then shakes his head. "Well... yes. I'd give it a try, but it's really best as part of another dish, if you ask me." He looks upward a bit as he ponders. "...It has been a while since I've had anything with bacon in it..." "No, I mean it's one of the few things that SURVIVED the Ascendence of magic." Summer chuckles. "I've just never HAD it before." she shrugs. "So, get a plate each of the stuff, maybe?" Robin raises an eyebrow. "A plate of just bacon? Errr... no. I'd go with a bacon cheeseburger or something instead. Just a plate full of bacon sounds... excessive to me. And way too greasy. Seriously, you'll need napkins with the burger, and it's not nearly as greasy as straight up bacon would be." He then nods. "Well, I'd be shocked if anything that existed in my world would have gone away with magic becoming more prominent." Summer considers that. "Bacon cheeseburger? I don't think I've had that either. Sounds interesting. Where's the barkeep, anyway?" she asks, looking around. The barkeep, a man with fiery red hair that seems even styled like flames complete with tellow highlights, finally manages to get himself away from the massive group off on the other end of the bar with a light annoyed sigh. "Welcome to the Ususal Restaurant, sorry about that. How can I help the two of you, then?" he asks. Robin blinks up at the guy, then back to Summer again. "I guess two cheeseburger platters?" Rainbow Dash comes Trotting in, "Yo," she greets, tucking her wings in at her sides and gancing about. Hey, there's Robin and the girl from last night... "Sure, long as there's bacon involved." She says. Then hears a familiar voice and turns. "Ah, Rainbow Dash, right?" she waves. "Come join us, we're about to try some of the food here." Robin looks back over his shoulder at the familiar voice, then grins. "Heya, Dashie! You already met Summer, right?" He glances back to Summer again, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Hey, I've had it before. Seriously, though, you've not had bacon? I can get it from Dash, she's a herbivore..." The bartender grins slightly to Dash and waves to her as well. "Evening, Miss Dash. Will you be having a cider tonight? Or mead?" He grins mischievously... no, he's never going to let her live that one down. Rainbow Dash says, "Hey, the usual Cider, thanks...and can I get some spring veggie rolls to? Thanks!" she trots over, "Hey, Summer, I see you've met Robin..and no, no bacon here; so gross," she makes a face. Though she's a lot more tolerant on the subject then Fluttershy." "Really? I've never had it before, myself. I've heard it's delicious though." The wolfgirl licks her lips at the anticipation. Shrugging sheepishly, she adds, "Hey, wandering Knight. Fighting evil doesn't really give one much time to each certain foods, you know?" The bartender nods and goes off to fulfill all the orders! Robin, for his part, nods to Dash, as that was about the reaction he was expecting. "Yeah, just ran into her on my way home from work. She looked lost, so... I figured this was good place for her to eat. It was the first place I was brought to, afterall." He looks back to Summer again, tilting his head ever so slightly as he regards her. "...You've always got to give yourself some downtime or you'll eventually break down, though, right? And you're an actual knight? Like... the king or queen or a duke or something fully knighted you? I've never really held myself bidden to just one nation..." Rainbow Dash sits next to the others as she waits for her order. 'Speaking of that meat-eating thing, Robin, have you seen Sakura? I think she maybe said the wrong WRONG thing to Fluttershy and it didn't....really go over well...haven't seen mane nor hoof of her since." Summer snorts somewhat derisively at the mention of kings, queens, dukes and the like. "You can be knighted by more than royalty, Robin. I was knighted by the Commander of the Order of the Knights of Teknoria." She raps her bio-weave covered arm against her chest. Sure enough, despite its organic look, it certainly sounds like some kind of armor. "And sure, I've taken the occasional day or two of rest. But that doesn't mean I've gone on hunts for exotic eats." she adds. Robin frowns at that news, then looks back at Rainbow Dash and shakes his head. "No... no I've not. I figured she was just melding in with you guys... I've not heard hide nor hair of her..." He looks pretty concerned about this, taking a moment before he finally responds to Summer. "Ehh? Oh, so it's a different kind of knighthood." He nods again. "Honestly, I feel like that classical 'knighted by royalty' type seems to be more rare than not... But you've been to a city, you've said. Why wouldn't you want to try some different foods once you got there?" "I do, every once in a while. But I don't go out of my way to say 'hey what's weird and exotic that a Knight who wanders around would never have tried before'." Summer says with a shrug. Alberto enters the restaurant. He is completely inconspicuous, aside from having a cyber monocle and an expensive suit, and also butt hair. There is nothing to see here. Rainbow Dash looks to Robin, "She pretty much says to Fluttershy, wild rabbits don't taste as good as ones you raise yourself...as you can probably guess, Fluttershy didn't take that very well..." she rolls her eyes a little, "She's quiet but she can sure get mad when you cross a line..." She glances up as the new-comer enters, she nods a greeting. Robin winces with a grimace. "I... yeeeeah...... that is... about one of the worst things you could say to Fluttershy..." He sighs, then looks out the door. "...Maybe I should try to see if I can go find her. Search for a few hours before heading to bed... I'm not as worried about her as I would have been before, but..." Robin looks back to Summer again. "Ehhh... sorry. Another friend of mine is trying to, uh... well, she's having some trouble adjusting..." Rainbow Dash says, "She...got turned into a Pony." "I dunno. I've had decent enough rabbit on my travels. I prefer boar and bear, personally, but rabbit will do when nothing else is available. That or chicken." Summer opines. She glances briefly at the strange figure entering, but decides not to ask about the odd hairstyle. Then blinks at the back and forth between Robin and Rainbow. "...Turned into a pony? How?" Alberto settles down at the bar, ordering something light. A martini, stirred thank you because that is how a martini is prepared and shaking the darn thing just gets you cold water with a bit of gin and vermouth, why does everybody ask him that, ugh. Still nothing to see here, carry on with your business. Rainbow Dash says, "She was a magical girl..and somekinda contract was turning her evil, so, the only way to save her; my friend Twilight turned her into a Pony. I totally don't understand any of it, but that's more or less the story." ".....Magic. Of course..." Summer sighs in aggravation. "Why do people ever thing anything GOOD comes out of magic, anyway?" Robin sighs and shakes his head. "It... it was a nasty mess she got put into, but.. yeah, that's pretty much it." He stands up from his bar stool. "...Hey... cancel one of those burgers!" he calls back to the bartender. He then looks from Rainbow Dash to Summer. "Sorry. I'm gonna go see if I can happen to track her down..." He does, however, wince a little when Summer declares magic to always be bad. "Um... yeah. So... good luck with NeoTokyo... uh... maybe I'll see you later." With that said, he's making his way to the door. Alberto snorts derisively. "Magic. It's always about magic..." he grumbles, back still turned to the others. Rainbow Dash blinks, "Hey, magic can be totally awesome and good. Twilight's always helping people and ponies, with her magic. Sure some people and ponies do the wrong things with it, but there's a lot of really godo things that magic's used for too. Luckily, the food seems to have been made for Rainbow and Summer first. So when it does pop up, Robin's cancelled order isn't part of the stuff that is brought over. Summer frowns. "Then you and I have had very different experiences with magic." the wolfgirl says, picking up some of the fries in her platter and munching on them more angrily than they deserve. Alberto is served his drink, and checks it carefully to make sure it is, in fact, stirred. Satisfied, he begins to sip at it, not too quickly. He's not looking to get drunk, after all. | |
Enable comment auto-refresher