Ghuughs Snack Shack/Shop Log

Below is a log of all written encounters within Ghuughs Snack Shack, owned by Ghuugh Bolordax. This log will be amended with the conclusion of every meeting, and may be turned in by those who have contributed as well.

It will be categorized by locations where the encounters have taken place.

## Elantia

### With Vek Xung and Shadriabun Nil

The Three eyed Saviki entered Gh'uughs Snack Shack with a mighty hunger and thirst and made his way quickly to the back of the restaurant, it was there that he could see a large bulky Agatropian with a permanent scowl planted on the scaly face of the behemoth. Evidently that did not matter to a man like Vek Xung, someone of muscle and brains and obvious experience with the world around him, nothing was going to scare this Saviki. He cleared his throat and spoke in a confident tone "I would like to order here, and I think I would like a glass of Agatropian Bloodstout, A large Spicy Pepper Rub Flatdog Thigh with some Chilly Cheese Fries and a Cigar. Think you can do that for me big guy?"

**”That order will be right up for you friend”** he turned to the window behind him that had a look into the kitchen and yelled something in Agatropian before he got a dirty look and nod and turned back to Vek Xung **“Someone will be with you shortly”** he grunted out, as if he were annoyed.

**”Once you are finished that will be 51,000 cubits”** he said as the sound of clattering and the spicy smell made it out to his nose.

The Saviki hunter nodded, and drew a black and gold card from his satchel. **"Do you accept GladreCorp corporate cards here?"** he asked.

'Shadriabun Nil entered the Snack Shack, along with a very large Ghalipan. **“My, my, who might you be?”** Shadriabun asked, antennae flickering as he let his heavily armored, short associate plod up to his side, looking over the menu with a squint before looking up to the Agatrops. **“You know where you’ve set up your shop, correct?”** the Theraki salesman asked before gesturing out the window to his own Emporium, the fenced perimeter not even a hundred feet away. **“You set up *right next* to me. Not even a friendly notice or anything. We laid claim to this stretch of the Campus, bought all the rights from all the right people, and then this place pops up. And you know what I got to say about that?”** the Theraki asked, leaning in to the counter and up at the ten-foot Agatrops. **“… I think we can work together on this.”**

Shadriabun's opening monologue caught Xung's attention, and he adjusted his position in his chair - he didn't stand just yet, but if fists began flying, he would readily be able to, and his right hand danced near where he had placed his sheathed shotgun. But as the Theraki spoke the final sentence, Xung let out an exhale, and turned back to his table.

Gh’uugh took the card with a bloody smile and looked it over before jotting down the number and amount he owed and handed it back to Vek Xung, completely ignoring the weird creature that barged in with some muscle. **“Of course, we are a flexible restaurant, go have a seat and the meals will be ready probably in a minute or so”** he looked to the shrimp man after and gave a narrow eyed stare.

Gh’uugh watched the man ready himself for conflict but gave a wave and saw the waiter head to the mans table with a nice crispy Flatdog thigh and its fries. **“Your food is headed to your table, i assure you it is good. Now, Agatropian cigars have a few psychedelic effects but wear off as soon as you exhale. Enjoy the food”** he said.

**"Thank you, I'm sure I will."** The Saviki said with a smile and turned back to his table as the food started being brought to it.

He took out a quad package of cigars and hands it to Shadriabun **“I will get back to you on that after a few customers, once my lunchbreak starts. I will visit your trinket shop, but please refrain from talking business in front of customers”** he said and turned back to a forward sitting stance and took out another quad pack of cigars and wrote Kel Xung on it and set it on the plate that the waiter came out with for his meal.

Shadriabun eyed the Saviki for a moment, glancing between him and Gh'uugh for a moment before nodding back. **"Alright then,”** he said, straightening his suit before looking to his Ghalipan associate. **“Neddi, get back to the shop. Mammoth’s gonna need some hay soon.”**

**“But boss, you said we’d get some chow-“** one of his associates whined

**“Oh, I know,”** Shadriabun assured back, looking back to the menu before back at Gh'uugh. **“Now, for the non-business side of things. We’ll have one order of mashed potatoes for him, and I’ll… I’ll take the Karian Fudge. To go.”**

Gh’uugh just nodded slowly to Shadriabun and yelled at the chefs back there to get a covered plate of piping hot mash potatoes and some Karian fudge ready. **“Alright then, that will be 7,000 cubits.”** He said in a gruff monotone voice. He watched as a hand from the window smacked him on his head a few moments after with a lidded plate of mash and some steamy hot fudge. He grabbed the plates and gave the chef a look before plopping the plates down in a baggy and handing it to Shadriabun. **“Enjoy your meal.”**

**“Well, *actually, before I pay* I have a recipe for you, good sir,”** Shadriabun insisted, sliding out several sheets of paper. “Artificial Theraki nutrient slurry,” Shadriabun explained. **“Enough of my fellows I’ve seen walking about that I feel confident that you’ll have more customers looking to have something more ethnically Akromnik,”** he gave Gh'uugh a wink back.

Gh’uugh rolled his eyes and took the recipe and put it in the desk behind the counter for now. He tore up the tab **“you gave me a recipe, so you do not have to pay for this meal. You can chose to save the free meal ticket or use it now”**

**"Now, of course,”** Shadriabun gave the Theraki equivalent of a smile. **“If you’d like, I could get Neddi back inside and he’d offer you about twenty more Ghalipotji recipes from his great-great grandfather or the like,”** he waved a hand in a gesticulating manner. **“But I digress. Like you, I’ll see you later, restauranter. We’ll have *much* to discuss.”** With that, Shadriabun took his bag of food and meandered his way outside, offering a tip of his bowler hat to the Saviki sitting down to eat before making his leave for his own shop.

### With Maridol Eeine and Company

Coming back into the shop from Shadriabun Nil’s he quickly got to writing down Aratacian and Drodo foodstuffs and items on the menu, happy to have more diversity. He also went back behind the kitchen to find the chefs ordered a big ass shipment of Desbola Brew. He groaned and helped drag it inside and took one out. **“Guys, this stuff is nearly fatal to non-Agatrops, what am I supposed to do with this?”** He asked annoyed.

One of the chefs spoke up **“Just do what other beverage Centers do ran by our species, get some waivers printed up that they have to sign to drink it. It takes all liability off of us, and it reads that they knew the dangers beforehand”** he said. Gh’uugh nodded to this and shrugged, using one of those cargo wagons to bring a coolant cell full of the beverages up to the front desk, and turned on the radiation shielding technology on the cooler. He sat back down in his seat at the front desk and took out a cigar and some brandy and started sipping it. The front-door sign now saying its back open for business.

Once again, as it always did, the marching Sarmish parade descended upon the Campus Priphonus. Spreading out in their own little groups, Maridol Eeine himself lead the greatest of them, a group of around 20 dalremnei and humans, towards the new shops at the edge of the park. A curious sight, Maridol decided to preview the restaurant before he looked into the stranger store.

Entering at first alone, and then followed by the rest of his group, the Sarmish gladiator looked over the menu with a hum, swaying his tail with a quiet ring of his bells.

**"… What would you suggest to me and my companions, kind merchant?"** Maridol asked, peering up to Gh’uugh from beneath the counter, standing up onto his back legs and leaning against it as he did so.

Gh’uugh looked down at the creatures for a moment in pondering. He snapped his fingers and first spoke to Maridol **“Well kid, I suggest to you a piping hot bowl of Mashed Potatoes and gravy and some deep fried bird wings, sided with a flatdog burger”** he said. He scratched his chin for a moment and cleared his throat **“A few sugar glaze steamed fish, and steamed vegetables, for your other Dalremnei friends. And for the humans some warm Beef Stew and Doughboys”** he grinned at them with some evident blood on his sharp teeth.

There was a brief moment of contemplation as he craned his neck, but Maridol eventually conceded with a nod. **“This is all agreeable. What would the tab be for such a grand meal?”**

He took a moment to calculate it on his datapad before looking back down at the creature before him and gave a look. **“That will be 220,000 cubits”** he quickly banged the window frame behind him and gave the order to the cooks.

Looking back to his retinue and barking out something in Sarmish, a small drive was eventually offered up from a Dalremnei and slotted into place.

**“It will be a pleasure to have what you serve us, Agatrops of Vortkan,”** Maridol nodded, extending his nod downwards with his craned neck.

He watched as the money entered the shop funds and gave a small Agatropian salute before taking out a cigar and taking a large puff. Rattling in the kitchen suggesting they were close to being finished. He watched a few minutes later as three different waiters brought out the meals for each person, Maridol getting his meal, the steam obvious. **“Have a good time eating sirs. And honor to you”** he sat back in his chair and kicked his feet up, the metal boots clanking against the wood.

### With Goembaruum Iilin

In the area for his work anyhow, the Erudinian salvor known as Goembaruum Illin made his presence known as he entered the Snack Shack, looking over the menu curtly and with very little chatter to communicate to the Agatrops. Wearing more modern clothes than the ordinary Utuk-Xul, his inordinately strange look grew as he eyed the establishment's interior more before focusing back onto the menu, missing one of his eyes and a mandible and covered over by crude sheet metal welded to it.

**"... Storekeep,"** he began with a clack of his bronze-tipped mandibles against his beak, a typical Sepulchral way to start a conversation. **"What would you say would suffice upon your menu?"**

The Agatrop gave the strange thing a bored expression and lit a cigarette with his fire breath and took a big puff before he flicked a few of the ashes on the ground. **“You are metal thing. How you eat?”** He asked with no obvious curiosity evident in his voice. **“You have notches and bolts and metallic framing, are you able to digest any of the food I may serve you?”** He squinted his eyes at the robot. He stared for a moment before taking out his menu and looked it over to find a suitable meal that would satisfy something that probably cant even eat it.

His clawed finger trailed down the plastic list until he stopped at steamed fish and the Bittersweet Pastry puffs. **“Seeing as you look a bit like those imperial birds from the old books I used to read, I give you Sugar Glazed Smoked Fish, with our famous Sweet and Spicy Pastry Puffs, the sugar glaze holding our special Tummy Tickling Torkacan sauce. I suggest getting it cream filled to even out the flavor. So in total? 20,000 cubits”** he said with a raspy voice.

Goembaruum looked over the menu again, squinting his four pearly eyes over the noted menu items before looking back to Gh'uugh. About even in height between the two of them, the Sepulchral Realm denizen seemed almost to eye up the man before him with a click of his mandibles.

**"I may eat as I see fit,"** Iilin regarded plainly with a shake of his head. **"I will not say any further. But yes, what you have suggested will suffice to fill my gullet for the time being,"** he placed the drive down onto the counter between them. **"... Though, I may ask that I offer to you... a 'family' recipe?"** he clicked his mandibles intently, a bit of a cold smile at the corners of his beak.

He eyed the robot again mentally reminding himself before next customer to get rid of the family recipe one meal free. He nodded slowly **“well sir I was in no way trying to offend you. If I were any other Agatrops I probably wouldn’t care about keeping my customers happy”** he said and banged the bell behind him and yelled something in thick Agatropian to the cooks who yelled back and hissed.

He looked back at the thing and gave a blood stained grin **“so, what would this family recipe be. It must be a very interesting one at that”** he put his hands together and leaned forward. **“Peak my interests, and I will throw a bone.. or *wire* for your meal and it shall go free”**

**“An Erudinian Lentil Stew,”** Goembaruum responded plainly as he shifted back some, eying Gh’uugh in response to his wire comment. **“A fine one, at that, and surprising taste for spacer food, second only to that of Nur-Kubi. Would that be sufficient for a meal?”** He asked with another clang of his mandibles against bronze and steel beak.

Gh’uugh scratched at the back of his chitinous neck before he heard the clambering of pots and pans, signifying his meal is done. **“Yes that recipe will suffice, now will you be taking the meal to go or will you be sitting down at one of our tables?”** He asked with a bored raspy tone.

**"I'll take it to go, if you can,"** Goembaruum insisted with a nod back to Gh'uugh. **"I have business matters to attend to, and must eat on the go."**

The Agatrop nodded before banging the wall, soon enough carefully wrapped boxes with the Vortkan symbol on them was brought out by the waiter and handed to the metal man. **“I hope you enjoy your meal, and please do give word of my establishment. And while you are at it, tell Aoshtai, Agatrops such as myself are not just big nasty brutes. Not enough people understand that..”** he returned to smoking his cigar and took out a green glowing bottle of what appeared to be liquor with a radioactive hazard sign on it. **“Good day”**

### With Rozalia Paradowska and Rivlesti Tevarge

Gh’uugh walked to one of the chefs in the kitchen and patted them on the back **“My friend, you are our lead chef and for while I am gone, you shall run the operations in the front of the restaurant. So do not disappoint me, and if I hear any problems from the customers I will personally turn you into the next special”** he said gripping the mans shoulder before hissing and walking out the kitchen and grabbed his cleaver and put on some armor. He left the restaurant with confident strides in his step, he was gonna fight for his fame.

After exiting the space elevator, Rozalia made her way to the Campus Priphonus, and soon spotted the Snack Shack. Deciding she was hungry enough, she entered the restaurant.

Marbharoui looked up from his news pad and gave a broken toothed smile at the customer and straightened his posture out. **“Hello and welcome to Gh’uughs snack shack, the only place on Vigila where you can grab a bite that we promise won’t bite back”**

He cleared his throat **“Now, how may I help you”** he grinned.

She glossed over the menu for a moment. **"A question before I decide: how's the Vortkan Whiskey?"** she hummed waiting for a response before she looked back up to him.

**"More importantly, how is it for humans?"** she asked with understandable necessity.

Marbharoui sat back for a minute, **“Well, Vortkan whiskey is a more earthy taste, it is sort of like a sweet and sour. It is a bit high for humans though, think its about 75% Alcohol By Volume”** he took out a bottle as he said that and looked at the label. **“Still, it is a good whiskey to start the night with, and its smokey flavor goes great with fried food or a sweet desert.”** He smiled.

Rozalia gave a subtle smirk. **"I'll take a glass of it then, and a plate of the steamed mussels to start."**

The somewhat chitinless Agatrops simply smiled and turned to the window into the kitchen **“Guys! Get to work!”** He said in Marrician Agatropian before switching to Torkacan **“*Astrleecth! Vakta! Vakta!*”** he yelled at them as the clattering of pans began to fill the shop. He turned back to her with his smile **“the food will be with you shortly, take a browse around and maybe look at some of our cigars, don’t ask for Desbolla Brew though.”** He said while jotting down the expenses, and handed a transfer drive to her, the bill rang up.

**"23,000 Cubits"**

After hearing word of the restaurant, he’d walk in Ghuugh’s snack shack along with a entourage of fellow NNR soldiers. Rivlesti Tevarge would look around, eyeing Marbharoui, **“Hello, Agatrop, does this area have food which is suitable for my soldiers?”** Pulling out a Nalvinsan cigar, he’d then add, **“By the way, would I have to smoke outside?”**

Once Rozalia had finished the mussels, she finalized her order: **"And a Vanara flatbread veggie wrap as well, please."** The whiskey, meanwhile, she was taking her time with.

Marbharoui squinted his eyes at the weird amphibian. **“Yes, smoking *outside* would be preferred, our chefs already are stuck dealing with steam and heat”** he said trying to be respectful.

**“Also, for future reference sir, do not just refer to me or my kind as *Agatrop* it is insulting to just label us, ask our names first.”** He said and then nodded to Rozalia **“sure thing! Will have that ready in a minute!”** He turned back to Rivlesti **“We do have suitable food, so pick what you like!”** He forced a smile.

Rozalia nodded, and sipped her whiskey with some anxiety as she tried to keep her profile relatively low. She had no interest in being pulled into a Tyvanites' race war.

Walking into the shack, she would see the unique variety of characters arrayed inside, and the latent tension in the air, but would continue on towards an empty chair and take a seat. She wasn't actually sure why she was visiting a restaurant, considering her nature, but had nothing better to do with her time. Marbharoui noticed this but said nothing as he was stuck dealing with some annoying pushy amphibian.

Lighting his cigar after he’d step out, he muttered to his soldiers in his tongue, **“Get what you want, it’s all on the house.”** The group would mutter amongst themselves for some time, then one whom appeared to be an officer would beckon to a Thraxolaxian soldier in their ranks, shoving them forward.

The Thraxolaxian soldier would then speak in a low tone, with a mechanical translator. They’d then read a hastily made list with somewhat broken speech, with it assumably being because of the list itself, **“For meal, ten plate of Flatdog nuggets, twenty steam fish, five season steak, twenty mash potato?”** Then flipping the page, with raised eyes, **“Twenty Karstbier, five ice tea and, wait? Five cake? As well, for Rivlesti himself, he’d like Arat-ac-ian? Steamed mussels and a seasoned steak.”** He’d then go back to the group of NNR soldiers whom seemed to be having an inside joke going on, after some talking, the Thraxolaxian would then come back, with some of the soldiers holding a snigger, **“For me, they tell me that Desbola alcoholic brew is a good drink for people whom are less tolerant of liquor, is that correct?”**

**"*Athi's tits...*"** Rozalia muttered under her breath in her native Lexicon, as she overheard the group of Tyvanites make their collective order.

The Thraxolaxian would then look at the menu himself, seeing what Desbola Brew was, he could then be heard yelling at his fellow soldiers, telling Marb, **“Sorry, but the Desbola Brew is being taken off.”**

Marbharoui looked at the men in bewilderment and his surprise turned into annoyed anger as he wrote down the items off the menu. He gave a red eyed glare at the men before banging on the kitchen window behind him and handing the current leading chef the large order. As he handed over the giant order he heard the lead chef give a loud reptilian hiss and the sound of loud yelling in a thick Agatropian accent ensue. **“Your order will be ready *eventually*. You will be charged an extra 50,000 cubits for not calling ahead of schedule for this large order. If you have a problem with that, *please, do not stay*”** he said in a tense voice and took out a glowy green Desbola brew and started sucking down the beverage.

Seeing this, Rozalia decided it was time to down the rest of her whiskey and pay for her meal.

She passed a cubit drive to Marbharoui which contained the payment of 38,000 plus a nice tip of 7,600 cubits.

Marbharoui ignored the amphibious man for a moment to smile **“thank you Rozalia, stop by anytime again for a quieter meal. I will even light your whiskey on fire, it tastes great”** he said and snickered. **“And thank you for the tip!”**

He turned his attention back to the frog man and watched as angry looking employees walked out with their arms full of lidded plates, one of the chefs even looked like he was about to breath fire on the men. Marbharoui shook his head to the man who promptly stopped for the time being, Marbharoui cleared his throat and handed Revlisti the bill of 618,000 cubits.

Rivlesti would look at the bill, **“Seems like quite the cost we’ve racked up. Here.”** He’d then pass them a drive, which contained a tip, racking up to 824,000 cubits.

He’d then chuckle to his soldiers in his tongue, **“Today we eat well!”**

### With Anzhela Didenko

Marbharoui looked over to Anzhela and grinned “good afternoon, sorry for the wait. I had to deal with some annoying impatient customers!” He said. “What is it you would like to eat..” he looked at her form and scratched his head “Hmm, what is it you can eat actually?” he questioned in a perplexed tone, which replaced his annoyed one from dealing with Rivlesti.

Rivlesti shot a look at Marb, **“Hey, atleast you made well money, so best not complain.”** He and the rest of his soldiers then went back to carrying their food.

Marbharoui looked at the frog man and his hand lit up in fire with anger evident in his eyes. He threw a fireball at the door while the NNR people were on their way out due to his anger.

Rivlesti then had a frown, **“That settles that then.”** The soldiers would then hurry their pace and Rivlesti would soon take his leave.

By this point she had, for the most part, completely left her plane of existance; her pupils almost as wide as her eyes themselves as she stared off into the distance. Upon hearing him, however, she'd be jolted back into reality and would look over at him.

**"Ah, eh-- Hello, wait is fine."** She'd say, waving a hand slightly to dismiss the notion that he had done anything wrong. She'd continue to speak in her broken, thick accented Aoshanti, **"...We eh... Consume essence of life, from living thing, yes. I was curious if you had some of this, since restaurant."**

Marbharoui nodded slowly and hummed in response before he got up and walked around and out from behind the front desk and motioned for her to follow him to the butchers. It was there that he took her to the kennel area where some flatdogs and myrrats were caged. **“This is where you can get a meal. Its a bit unorthodox but what do I care, I have seen and done worse to living things”** he shrugged.

**“Ill make it cheap since this particular Flatdog is an asshole, thing almost took my arm off”** he said and pointed to a disgusting creature with large talons and ugly fangs with slobbery saliva dripping from its mouth. Marbharoui hissed at the creature before looking to her **“it will only be 50,000 cubits”**.

She winged her hands together idly as she looked down at the beast, the ferocious form it had, the sheer vitrol it had for most of it's brethren and most certainly for its owner-- It was mentally defective, anti-social, but this defect came with a benefit, it was feisty. It had ample life, pacing around its cage.

Her hands clenched together now instead of winged, shaking slightly for a moment from the pressure as the corner of her mouth curled upward, neither cruel nor sadistic, it was more base-- Predatory. With an invigorated shine in her eyes, she quickly glanced over at Marbharoui.

**"Animal perfect, yes. What I need-- Do you want pay now or after?"**

Marbharoui scratched his chin for a moment before shrugging **“Ill even make it free, just get rid of the bastard.”** He hissed at the thing **“Ill also make it free if you give some thought to allowing Gh’uugh to set up a franchise in Krizovia. I have spent enough time here in Aoshtai to tell where you hail from. And I know enough that you are important to an extent to your nation, so do think it over”** he said and looked to the flatdog and bent down to the things level. The creature responded with a disgusting snarl and attempt to bite Marbharoui in the snout. Marbharoui pulled his face away a bit and growled **“goodbye you little shit, you can have this pest for free”**.

She had already taken out what appeared to be a stylus for a PDA on her she was about to grab, the subtle shaking of her hand making it clatter on the floor as he described the free price of the animal. She quickly nodded along as he spoke, franchise this and connection that, it barely stuck with her-- There were more important things at hand, but she managed to catch it.

**"Yes, yes-- I forward to Her Majesty Kiseleva, she on Elantia right now. No, no! No."**

She shook her head, her pupils sharp as the width of a coin, cutting herself off as she thought for a moment. **"No, I give direction to her, better meet in person. Tell you location of booth-- I say Gh'uugh are coming. Yes, that what I do."**

Her voice echoed as she finished her suggestion, decidedly etheral as she darted her eyes over at the flatdog through the gate, then back at him. She took a step towards the gate, **"Do you want stay for this or want go?"**

Marbharoui shook his head **“nah I will let you have some privacy with the son of a bitch”** he walked out of the room to let her enjoy the feast and took out a cigar and lit it in his fingers.

Sometime shortly after Rozalia took her leave, another, much more recognizable human face entered the Snack Shack, curtained by a mass of curly red hair and shielded behind a large pair of sunglasses. **"Hello!"** he said in cheery Aoshanti. While his eyes were concealed, any observant onlookers could still surmise that he was realizing who was manning the shop. **"Ah, there's a familiar face..."**

She smiled wide and visibly relaxed as he gave her the privilege of privacy, her straight and formal stance becoming more hunched as she snapped her gaze back to the cage. The door closing, her view would be obscured, leaving the particulars up to the imagination. However, what isn't up to the imagination is the noises emanating from behind the door.

Shunts and slams of the metal cage gate would echo down the kennel's halls, a prolonged gasp would sound accompanied by the sharp shrieking of the flatdog-- This shrieking being joined by the barks and panicked pattering of the other animals in the kennel. A cacophony of shrieks, metal slamming, shifting of cages, barks, gasps, and the buzzing of overhead lights. The kennel would be bathed in noise.

After a minute of this, a silence would descend upon the room, only occasionally broken by the spare bark or pattering in a cage.

### With Niklas Carnilligan and Nelmemmush

Marbharoui only listened and took a big puff off his cigar before turning his attention to the customer walking into the door **“Hello red human. What is it you so desire from the best food shack on Vigila?”** He grinned, and sniggered at the screaming of that asshole flatdog.

Carnilligan, hearing the cacophony of strange and alien sounds, gave Marb an adventurous grin. **"Any chance I could sample some of those noises? I'll let you get the royalties off of it."** He chuckled. **"I heard a lot about this place from my man Vek. I think I'll start with some Levlistran Bloodwine and an Aratacian Smoked Sausage, and a Sugar Smoked Flatdog Thigh as the main course. Take your time on the last one, though, I'm waiting for a friend."**

Emerging from the butchers, and into the front of the shop would be Anzhela, as she adjusted her cap and dusted her tunic. Putting her hands together and then pressing them against her mouth momentarily, she would gather her thoughts, before quickly twisting them away from her mouth and pointing them towards Marbharoui.

**"Thank you for service, I would have to hunt if not--"**

She leaned in slightly towards him, **"I will tell Her Majesty Kiseleva, Gh'uugh should prepare to meet in a day."**

Between her fingers and pointed towards him would be a cubit drive, fifty thousand cubits plus a thirty percent tip, a total of sixty five thousand cubits. **"Please take, make thing easier for me. Flatdog meat should be fine to use too."**

Marbharoui looked to her and took the drive hesitantly but smiled **“thank you miss, I will be sure to let Gh’uugh know!, have a good rest of your day”** he waved and turned to Carnilligan and banged on the wall behind him and the window. He smiled at Niklas and turned to the kitchen window with a written note on the order and handed it to a very large bluish red Agatrops with mossy gray chitin, signifying age. The large lizard nodded and yelled to the others in a strange version of the Agatropian language to the others to get working.

He turned back to Niklas **“Your order will be done soon, since we smoke the food beforehand every night before we close up it wont take too too long”** he grinned with an evidently missing signature Agatropian fang.

She nodded and walked out towards the door, raising a finger up in the air behind her to signify her words;

**"You as well. Maybe come to shop too, just open! I give discount."**

She gave a passing glance to Carnilligan before leaving, **"you too."**

As Marb spoke with Carnilligan, another whom he may have recognized enter the shack. They were a High Tvolis with goldenrod eyes and well-maintained facial patterns. Despite their slightly overweight body, they were still capable of floating, and as they passed into the room they immediately locked eyes with Carnilligan.
**"*Nikie, my favorite Muse!*"** said Nelmemmush, the eternally jolly CEO of GladreBurger. He spoke with an enthusiasm that might have suggested a sense of reunion, between two great friends after ages apart, but anybody who followed GladreCorp new remotely would know they had both been at a promotional event mere hours ago.

After sharing a friendly handshake with Carnilligan, Nelm floated into a seat across from his fellow GladreCorp executive.

Marb noticed the floaty fish and grinned widely **“hello! Welcome to Gh’uughs Snack Shack! The only place on vigila where the food doesn’t bite back!”** He smirked

**“What can I get you? I know we keep stock of Tvoli Herbal Tea”** he said and took out a package of said beverage. **“It is surprisingly a favorite among my species, has some calming affects for when they get real angry!”** he took a puff of his cigar from before as he spoke **“You can each take a free cigar if you’d like. Its fine to smoke in here”**

**"A little bit of home is always good. Besides that..."** his eyes scrolled the menu. **"I definitely have to have the Flatdog Burger with the special sauce and fries. And a plate of the Sugar Glazed Smoked Fish as well."** He glanced to Carnilligan, who gave a smile and nod. **"And we'll probably take a few minutes while we eat to consider dessert, just to forewarn you."**

**"And we'll both take that cigar offer,"** Carnilligan added.

Marbharoui looked between the two and took out two beautifully preserved cigars and handed one to each of them and wrote down the order of Nelmemmush and sent it back to the kitchen just as Niklas’ order came out, a large plate with a crispy smoked Flatdog thigh and a smoked sausage. Marbharoui took out a bottle of bloodwine from underneath the counter where the whine cabinet is and set it on the counter.

The sound of a large bang came from behind him as one of them slammed shut the smoker and his latex gloved hand slapped down the crispy fish on a plate and put a large greasy burger with melting sharp cheddar and some pickled onions. Marbharoui took it from the man through the window and put it on the counter as well. **“Here you fine gentlemen go, and while you think on desert, Agatropian Bittersweet Pastry Puffs are very good! Some spicy flavor to it but a nice mellow chilled cream evens it out in your mouth”** he said and sat back.

The pair of executives dug into their respective meals with gusto, Nelm most of all, with Carnilligan taking no end of photos with his PDA—itself sporting a portrait of Carnilligan on its casing.

**"I believe we’ll take you up on your suggestion,”** Nelm said as his plate approached its demise. **“Two orders of it, in fact, one for each of us.”**

**”No, no,”** Carnilligan cut in, **“I wouldn’t get halfway through it after all that. We can split one.”**

**”Not a chance, Nikkie. We’re getting two and a to-go box for whatever your skinny ass can’t finish.”**

Marbharoui smiled at their order and turned to the window **“*Vetenecheta! Dwaidet Sticha Brot Ent Sutarr!*”** He yelled to them. Once he got a hiss in response he nodded. He watched as two large Agatropian waiters brought out a box of a dozen Bittersweet puffs, including 2 smaller plates with 3 Puffs each. They set down the plates and the box on their table and went back in. Marbharoui looked to Nelmemmush and Niklas **“I figured you would, so I also had them get a small box of the puffs for later consumption. Consider it a tip of that hat, from one culinary man to the next”** he said in a knowing tone as he looked to Nelmemmush.

Nelm responded with a smile and nod. **"And it is appreciated."**

### With Evgeniya Kiseleva and Vortkan Gh'uugh

The Agatrop stood watch with observant eyes at a painting, a small glass of brandy in one hand and a fancy cigar in the other, he puffed away as he took in the sights and emotions that flowed out of the work of art. Yes he realized he was in an art gallery, but sometimes he would find a specific piece of beautiful design that spoke to him. Some of his kind did not understand sentimentality in artistic temperament, but he saw it for what the Agatropian culture is to him, beautiful and misunderstood. He took a long sip of his brandy and sighed, he straightened out his crisp suit, and did up the buttons till it reached the angle he so desired, he fussed over his golden laced shoulder pads, one reminiscent of a high commander of a naval unit.

He took a drag off of his cigar and blew it out through his nostrils **“A beautiful painting it is, reminds me of the longing pain one feels being away from home for so long”** he said to himself, not paying much mind to those around him. “I miss home, but not many others in the Clans are willing to show just how Agatrops can and truly are” he looked over the painting once more with a down expression **“*Tuderacht Verluentes..*”**

Standing in the art gallery would be a pair of the Krizovian Astroindustrial Charter Corporation's personal guard to the estates director, wearing red and white double breasted jackets with a white bandoleer going across their chest; adorned with golden buttons and a golden shoulder pauldron on one side, along with white trousers. Their faces would be concealed by a gold and golden gray colored mask, and they would bear golden arbaleum held at left shoulder arms.

Bearing tall black Shakos with a heraldic golden eagle, hailing from the homeland of ancient Bjelerovo, it would be clear that the KACC; unlike the national government of Krizovia, has stayed more true to their origins from eons past.

Here and there would scattered members of her entourage, from businessmen wearing black suits and ties, to aristocrats bearing their noble plate armor; as is a custom among the Krizovian nobility, almost exclusively belonging to the KACC itself. At the core of this scattered profession would be Kiseleva, observing a painting of an ancient battlefield; the ground brown and muddy with the bodies of shattered comrades abound, nevertheless the gallant warriors of Rhya marched on against their enemies-- An inter-cine conflict in the Concourse some time ago.

Catching him in the corner of her eye, Evangeniya would reveal a faint smile, momentarily ceasing with her idle fanning as she faced him.

**"Oh, Vortkan Gh'uugh!"** She'd say in a polite, though somewhat amused tone, as if she wasn't expecting to see him *at this instant*.

**"Fancy seeing you here, it is a pleasure to finally get to meet you, face to face."**

The man could only turn around slightly to meet the womans gaze and voice. He gave a light smile with his cigar hanging from his sharp teeth and gave a courteous bow as a sign of respect to the fair woman. **“The pleasure is all mine Mrs. Kiseleva, it is a special treat to be in the presence of such a successful esteemed figure”** he straightened out his posture and set down his glass of brandy on a shelf for a moment and snuffed out his cigar in a mobile ashtray he keeps on his person.

Gh’uugh looked at her compatriots with light eyes, watching over with some interest. “Paint and paper truly does speak out better than words shall ever, does it not?” He said and looked back to the painting for a moment. **“You are a fine woman, one who seems to have found her place in the universe rather well. That is part of why your name has entered into my interest, I am a man whom wishes to find my place in the universe, up there with the rest of the elites”** he folded his hands behind his back and cleared his throat **“You are a fair woman, so I would like to discuss the finer points of business with you”** he smiled and turned back to her **“however, I am in no rush as the month has only just turned. The finer things in life should always come first, and I am sure it would be better to get to know a prospective new business friend"**

She kept her faint smile as he spoke his flatteries and praise, she seemed appreciative of it, a good start to their introduction. A particularly blatant flash of curiosity would rest in her eye when he mentioned business, but more importantly, becoming a part of the foam that rests upon the top of the galaxy-- In her dealings she worked with countless businessmen from across Krizovia and beyond, even so far as Tyvus and Selten, but few could be considered the elite.

She paused and let his words marinate, as if she were considering the notion of a relationship or even *this discussion* entirely, even though she had been told about what he wanted prior by Anzhela-- A moment of silence, a recurring theme in Krizovian business negotiations. Then, her smile would dissipate into a neutral expression that could best be described as *"content"*, it was on, it was happening.

**"Why of course,"** she'd say, handing her folded fan off to an assistant nearby, **"you'll find that I'm equally as interested in a possible partnership with you, and that I also potentially hold the keys to your... Ascension into this *"elite"* as you call it."**

**"After-all, it is an informal thing, those that are particularly able and their relationships tend to attract to one another naturally. But, I digress."**

She'd look back at the painting, hands folded down and her head tilted ever so slightly as she examined it, **"you wish to know me, I wish to know you, and the moon is still young. So tell me, what brought you to Vigila in the first place?"**

She'd flash a glance at him, **"I would imagine it was more than the beautiful architecture."**

The large Agatrop thought on what she had asked for a few moments, he hadn’t thought about it much since he arrived but he let out a sigh and his shoulders seemed to stop being so tense. **“The reason I came to Vigila.. well to put it bluntly I am an old man. For 200 years of my life I have sat in the homeworld of my people and never traveled the stars spare my rite of business. I never fit in with the clans very well”** he shrugged and gave a sad smile **“I suppose I also came here to change some of the obvious prejudice against my species. While Torkacan culture is much more.. palatable, the xenophobia for the Agatropian species as a whole is so pungent you could smell it.”** He said with some evident hurt in his eyes, as though he experienced it himself often.

**“As I said I am old, I am 323 years old, I may survive another 80 to 100 at most. Life on the frontier is especially harsh for me, but I digress”** the Agatrop took in a sharp breath through his teeth **“Vigila was the best opportunity for me, a good way to learn new things in life”** he moved a bit away from the painting

**“So, that begs the question of why *you* came to Vigila, other than political representation and a mighty fine show to put on. It is interesting to see a political figure such as yourself down in the Arena. Perhaps you and my kind don’t have too much in terms of differences in that. Though I would hardly consider Agatrops to be political”** he gave a grin and a raspy chuckle.

**"It was an opportunity to see the galaxy after my long leave. What better a location for that than the Games?"** She would remark, continuing with a polite if reserved tone, **"quite the many changes the galaxy has had, and the arena serves the same purpose for individuals such as I, it is a tool to socialize and bond."**

She'd raise her brows slightly for emphasis, before lowering them as she continued, **"it also is simply an enjoyable thing I feel, an opportunity for honorable combat, and for one's skills to be refined. It reminds me of the days I used to wield a blade for the dignity of the Empire, of His Majesty the Tsar of Illaria, and for my own honor as an officer."**

An offhand statement, **"very long ago that was."**

**"So you could truly say our reasons are similar,"** she'd say with an amused tinge to her voice, the two's reasons just so happening to be vaguely similar, **"opportunity, such as with my desire to see the faces of Aoshtai, and you with your business and drive to clear up your people's image."**

She'd nod, **"and I think I can assist you with this, but I should know what you had in-mind for our partnership first."**

Gh’uugh scratched his chin and stood up straight **“To put it quite bluntly, I would like to set up a franchise in Krizovia of my Restaurant. I am trying to standardize some food items to be considered gourmet and also fast food”** he said and put his hands behind his back.

**“This is something I have had planned for a while, but due to the image of my people I haven’t had a way in to do it. That being expand my culinary empire”** he said in a light hearted yet serious tone.

**"Hmm, I see, I see."**

Once again she would be silent, mulling over his proposal, eventually speaking in a more contemplative tone. **"Restaurants are interesting things, especially in Krizovia, we have particular tastes and are very much stuck in those tastes. That is not even factoring in the regulation!"**

With a harrumph, she'd glance ovar at Gh'uugh, **"you will need a guide, for certain, and as I've said before I'm willing to partner with you towards this goal you have. However, if I am to be as equally blunt, there are some base conditions that must be fulfilled."**

**"For simplicity's sake the branch in Krizovia must be a locally registered subsidiary to your company, and for me to do my work with relative comfort, considering the high-risk nature of it-- I would ask for a fifty percent stake within this subsidiary."**

She would say this in quick and concise fashion, a contrast to the brief pleasantries that preceded, which for business done in Krizovia is standard-fare-- Short meetings that rely on personal socialization and relationships, until the verbal pen needs to meet the dotted line. More public spaces not excluded. She would look over at him, her eyes now properly holding, **"these are the general terms I present to form a baseline to this relationship."**

The Agatrop folded his arms in contemplation, from anyone else’s standpoint it would look as if he were angry or in pain, but to him he was just testing his odds. He grunted in thought before he sighed and waved off the notion **“I suppose I can work with this, its a step in the right direction at least. However I do know some of the dangers in terms of staffing”** he said and looked at her.

**“Krizovian staff would be most efficient at that franchise, maybe with one or two Agatrops for protection. I will probably want to have a representative of my company there if that is fine with you miss”** he smiled and pulled up a holopad that showed coordinates to what seemed a lush planet **“this right here is something you may find enjoyable. I co-own with my homeland a nature preserve of sorts. However I and my requisition crew are able to hunt there for fresh meat and herbs. Something you may find appealing”** he turned the pad off.

She quickly turned and gave a motion with her hand towards one of her assistants, already tapping away at a withdrawn black collapsible device hung from around his neck; it had a keyboard similar to a stenotype, and had a red and orange display that glowed against his black suit. Her expression was sharp, direct, and the assistant only gave a nod.

*Get on with it.*

She faced him once again, **"a Krizovian staffing would be preferred yes, and your representative can likely be there yes, though these are things to be coordinated by and between our lowers. I will say though, that is quite the lovely planet; we could indeed get some use from it."**

Gesturing a finger in confirmation of her words towards the planet on the holopad, she finished as a printing sound could be heard from her assistant; **"ah, and there is the protokol."**

The assistant reached into his satchel and placed the document on a leather board, clipping it down-- Protokols, as they were called, would be known to be summaries of meetings that took place. If something was agreed upon, and if they had a scribe on-hand, typically these documents would be printed and signed as an acknowledgement and affirmation of anything said.

The assistant would present it to Gh'uugh, clipped to the top of the board being a black gold/ivory fountain pen, being quite substantial with it's mass for a pen. **"If you may, a confirmation of our meeting."** Evgeniya would say.

Gh’uugh took the pen and carefully wrote out his name at the marked line and put the pen back into its place before looking back to her **“By the way, I would also like to discuss the possibility of being your +1 at the ball. That way I can possibly strike up more business opportunities like this one we have currently partook in. A kickback to you would of course be arranged, you technically are now a co-founder of the first Agatropian gourmet franchise”** he said in a smile.

**“Of course I can understand any wariness, I shall be on my upmost behavior. I am not the same as that old scumbag in Selten”** he reminisced about hearing on the news when that went down, and that famous quote the tyrant said.

Rather than signing with the supplied pen, an assistant hurried over with a wooden padded box and opened it for her, revealing a dark wooden bodied fountain pen covered in intricate gold designs in the wood itself. Taking it, she'd quickly sign her name on the dotted line; the signature was large and intricate, with swerves and loops, yet she seemingly did it in the blink of an eye-- Casually, too.

The ink was a black-red in it's color unlike the stark black of Gh'uugh's pen-ink, and it had a distinctive smell of iron to it. Not sparing a glance, she set the pen back in it's box, and was accosted by another assistant who hurried over with another box; this time it came open. A container for a golden seal press; she would swiftly grab it, and with a press, it would deposit it's stored red wax onto the paper.

The protokol now signed, she would cast it and the press off to her assistants, all while he was speaking, and would return her gaze back to him. From the look in her eyes, it appears she was listening to him. She gave a nod.

**"I see, an interesting proposal-- I suppose this is what you meant for wanting to connect with the *elite*, hm?"**

More silence as she visibly mulled it over, **"elaborate on what this kickback would entail, exactly."**

**”Well, since you are the first to agree to help start up basically a new fast food company, although it retains more quality food. You get I would say, 10% kickback from earnings I receive on other nations city worlds and the like”** he said in a cool voice, trying to be as clear about it as possible. **“It may not sound like it is too much. But this would be monthly gain, a nice cushion over time as the company expands”** he took out a new cigar, feeling the need to satisfy his nicotine craving.

**“The recipient to new business, should it be like for example, Aratacia, taxes and whatnots. Get their 50%, I would get 40%, and you would get a 10. The money shall eventually pile”** he smirked **“nothing too bold I assume, it would only be fair to give either 10 or 20% to the fair lady who helped get this started”**

She didn't even need to spare a glance over, the scribe taking the signed protocol and inserting the bottom of it into the slot of his recorder; seeming primed to make an addendum to the document. She would be silent for a bit longer this time, giving the appearance she was giving some thought to his proposal.

**"One must understand that the ball is more than just Aoshtai, it is one of the premier gatherings of the Aegis Cluster's upper-crust; it can potentially lead your business making connections far and wide."**

She looked up at him, and for a minute seemed prime to speak, but would stop herself. A few more moments, and then she would continue, **"with that in mind, I feel twenty percent would be fair enough in exchange for this."**

Gh’uugh gave her a look for a moment, one lerin had with Anzhela when she wanted a lot of money. He sighed and gave in to the request. **“Yes yes, I can work with that. And I understand my business could go far and wide, something I would be proud to have happen. And I am sure you would enjoy making some coin off of”** he said with a less chipper facial expression.

**“As stated, you will not have to worry about me, the only thing I wish to do there is show that sometimes, rumors about a people? Are damned wrong”** he said with a hint of actual anger in his voice. **“Sometimes people need a strong cunning voice to go with an intelligent diplomatic mind. I will not be any trouble to you, and with hope the other upper-crust as you say, will not with me”** he turned back to look at the painting one final time.

**“This painting, its dark brooding colors tell a story, a story of which I am familiar with. It represents the thing everyone has in them; darkness”** he stopped himself from continuing when he realized he was rambling. **“However.. I am sure you would wish to be spared of any philosophical discussion from an old Agatrops. Do we have a deal Mrs. Kiseleva?”** He held out a clawed hand to her, him having to bend down a bit to make it less awkward.

She seemed unperturbed by his words, or the subjects that they held, all while he spoke looking on with the same content expression; one that acknowledged what he said and by all appearances paid attention to him fully. After the usual silence, she would give a short nod to what he said, **"oh no, you are quite fine, your philosophy is inherently tied to your reasons behind coming here, it is relevant."**

She glanced down at his hand, it was very rare that she, Baroness and Executive-Director of the Krizovian Astroindustrial Charter Corporation, would ever shake hands with another-- But she had an understanding look in her eye, and an overall air of acceptance, this would do fine enough.

She would take him in her metal encased hand, it's chill almost immediately being apparent; there was no living body beneath it to provide warmth, thus it was the temperature whatever air-conditioning in the gallery demanded it should be. Perhaps even colder. The shake she afterwards gave betrayed her appearance, it had a supernatural power behind it, a strength typically not accompanying an aristocrat.

**"Anyhow, Mr. Gh'uugh, I say you have a deal. It will be a pleasure working with you-- And, having your attendance at the ball."**

The Agatrop only could give a sly grin, sincere yet reminiscent of a predator. **“That is all I could have asked for. May you enjoy the rest of your day.. and to our future gold mine”** he hissed out a laugh as he turned and walked out of the gallery, his large clambering appearance changing back into a hunched over posture, his age showing through the large hump on his back.

He smiled again, happy with what he had accomplished. It will be in the interest he thought, that the Emperor of Torkac make nice and be friendly to Krizovia. However he knew that the female Emperor was cunning and smart, so she would not jeopardize his people. He walked away and to the arena once more with an ambitious plan in his eyes, one that sometimes needs a bit of coercion.

### Vortkan Gh'uugh and Shadriabun Nil

Gh’uugh now in his shop pleased with some of his gains at that auction of the Aratacian Bank shares, he scratched his chin for a moment wondering what he could do to achieve more customer revenue. He was in deep thought when he watched as a few Agatropian and one Tesar worker helped lug a holographic projector into the room, it was then that he got a bright idea. He looked at the men **“alright boys, hook it up just outside the shop to the right, we will give the more.. interesting faces some desire for the Snack Shack”** he grinned and walked outside, pushing open the batwing doors.

Once he was outside he cleared his throat loud enough for even Shadriabun Nil to hear. **“PEOPLE OF VIGILA, STEP ON INTO THE SNACK SHACK. WRAITHS AND VAMPIRES ALIKE CAN NOW PARTAKE IN THE WONDERS OF MY FOOD. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!”** He yelled at the top of his lungs, and watched as the final plug was put in and the holographic image of the hunters paradise planet that he once showed Kiseleva flickered onto display.

**“Anyone who wishes to try our blood beers, or our blood jelly! Come on in! And for those with the *thirst* for the hunt, and the lust for a wild beasts life force! Only Gh’uughs snack shack can offer it!”** He put his hands out into the open widely. **“With every meal you buy for yourself or someone important to yourself, you can have one free hunting trip to the planet of Doerkeven! A place where even the strongest of warriors can find Rhyas grace in the eyes of the wildest of claw and fang!”** He finished his speech and coughed lightly at the end, his chest stung from the loudness he projected and he wheezed. However he felt he got the message across well and went back inside.
He waited for a moment and yelled once more **”And its an opportunity you could never find with Gladreburger!”**

Reading over the cryptic message one last time before he walked in with furrowed, confused antennae, Shadriabun would do as told in his note. After being let by with the permission of cashier Marbharoui, the Theraki would make his way back to the butchering area and let his demeanor rise once again.

“Ah, good sir Gh’uugh!” Shadriabun met with his usual enthusiasm, offering a hand before realizing that shaking a butcher’s hand in his workplace might not have been the best idea. **“You know, I’ve been meaning to get a word in with you about another business agreement. I’ve been needing a surplus of meats- whatever cut doesn’t matter, it’s animal feed. Usually, I’m fine dealing with the raptors and the Nyctodaxes and whatnot, but recently I’ve… well, I’ve had a bit of a personal development with an animal, and it’s in need of more food. Personally I was wanting this to befall someone else, but… the fool I am, right?”**

He stopped himself with a weak chuckle, before stopping in even that. **“… I’m rambling, aren’t I? I’m sorry. I’ll let my own business presentation be second after yours. You were the one to contact me first, so it is only fair.”**

Gh’uugh gave a light smile and a wheeze could be heard in his chest, most likely due to his constant smoking as some have noted on, he leaned against the counter and cleared his throat **“Ah yes, I was wanting to actually have something involving your need for meats and animals to be exact. See I have ownership of what some may say is an overkill”** he chuckled with a wheezy cough

**“I own a planet, a *nature preserve* if you will. It is a superhabitable world, and surprising for it being a rather large body it has a calm gravitational pull and pressure. Anyways, it is the place I get all of my produce from herbs all the way to slabs of meat as big as your mammoth”** he smiled at that for a moment. **“Something you would surely be interested in due to it basically being like your Menagerie, but planet sized and with many different flourishing diverse niches filled by large swathes of species native and otherwise.”** He looked directly at Shadriabun as he took out another cigar and put it in his mouth to light it.

Suddenly, Shadriabun's personal issues for feeding a developing carnivore became a lot less significant. He was silent for a moment, antennae and expression frozen in place.

**“… You’re… you own…”** he tried to repeat what the Torkacan had said. It was just such a claim, such a boisterous and amazing, stupefying claim, that he could simply not muster up the belief to even say it.

**“… Gh’uugh? How in *Rhya's name* did you manage to get an *entire world* the likes of which are… well, like *Mayar*?! Or *Muara*?!”** he asked with the sheerest incredulity in his tone. **“I mean you no offense by asking, of course, and don’t think this means I’m not interested, but what sort of trickery is this? How can a single Torkacan own a world like that? What chain of events leads to this kind of thing- it’s just *absurd*! There has to be some sort of government oversight- some sort of administration that you’re just a part of, a major part of, *right*?”**

**”Thought that may get your attention friend”** he wheezed out another chuckle. **“Bah, of course those snooty government officials have some bit to play in it. I am forced to limit which species I can legally kill, bag and tag, or turn into clothing for certain months. Considering that the government tasks me with funding an annual small research station that keeps the numbers up to date for each species.”** He waved off the notion of trickery.

**“However no, I personally and legally own the planet in my name. It started off as an old rite of passage world where young Agatrops were flung onto and forced to survive the dangers when it was a lot less.. maintained”** he took a deep suck in off his cigar and coughed. **“I was gifted it out of respect for my family name, as well as the fact I am the first rich Torkacan. Over the first 100 years of trying to get it into my name, slowly I gained grants from different clans. Until eventually a summit was held and it was told I would own such a body”** he shrugged it off.

**“Of course, the catch was that tourism income and rich snobs being allowed to hunt for their own sport was split between me and the government for backlog. Though I doubt a lot of the money they get has gone into infrastructure, but more the pockets of the emperor”** he stood up and stretched at that, his large tail smacking against the counter. **“Other than the favors they kindly asked of me, there is no administrative oversight”**

Gh’uugh chuckled **“best short explanation I can muster, I have connections just like that Lerin fellow”**

Slowly nodding along, Shadriabun started to take in the big picture of Gh’uugh’s planetary ownership. **“I see… I see… and… you see fit to… let me know if this why, exactly?”** He asked, still unsure of what Gh’uugh was getting at with all of this.

**"Well, I wanted to know if you want co-ownership. Im getting older and figure that a young man like you could help freshen up the world with your grace"** he gave a long shrug. **"Plus, it helps us both out in the long run. We are pioneers Nil, we both have faced prejudice about what we are. And we are showing them how wrong their initial assumptions were by getting filthy rich. Think of it.. Shadriabun Nil, Co-owner of an entire world to rival Muara, or even Maya"** he smirked

The offer was definitely alluring. *Shadriabun Nil, Co-owner of a Garden World*… **"Hm… I’ll have to think on it,”** Shadriabun insisted after a moment longer reminiscing in thought. **“I’ll have to see it for myself before I jump to any conclusions- not that I do not believe you, Gh’uugh, I am just… I do not want to stir the pot, or to cause unwanted controversy yet,”** he explained with a simple shrug.

**"Fair enough"** he said himself with a shrug **"I will give you a dossier on the Garden World, and I can show you it myself sometime by the end of this month, I do not think I shall keep the Shack open here much longer. Though I shall attend the Ball"** he smiled. **"It is a very lovely world, has a nice reddish blue hue to its flora, and it has many various types of fauna. Perfect for a menagerie owner"** he finished his cigar and flicked the bud at the back of the butchers head, who turned around with a sigh and grunted. **"Sorry brother"** he chuckled.

**"Anyways, I understand needing to see it for yourself. So I will get a flight prepared for you at some point"**

**”That sounds fair enough to me. I’ll have to run it by a few others, but I don’t see anything wrong with it now,”** Shadriabun agreed, wincing at the cigar's landing on the butcher's head.

**“… Now, while that matter is to be settled another day,”** the Theraki began with a rising tone, **“Let us get to my current and ever present dilemma of feeding a young and burgeoning monster of a creature. A…”** he glanced around, making sure no one was too close to hear as he leaned his head to the side of Gh’uugh’s head where he assumed the ear was and whispered, ***”A balebird.”***

Reeling back, he looked around again anxiously, making sure no one was looking their way before looking back to Gh’uugh. **“You see, they are… rather voracious, and recently she’s been growing ever faster and needing more than I have on stock. If I don’t get another source of meat for the time being, I’ll… well, I may be its next meal,”** he winced at the thought of being eaten by a balebird.

Gh'uugh gave a quick wave to the butcher to come over and once he was in earshot the Agatrop spoke **"My dearest brother, if you would be so kind as to get my friend here three Ghandithian Bog Marauders in a cart. I would be ever so grateful"** he gave a kind smile and his brother grumbled and in the giant freezer with a cart, inside it was three large sharp teethed vicious looking fish nearly the size of Gh'uugh himself.

**"My brother here will bring the cart over to your bazaar, I am fairly certain your beast can take care of the dismembering of the fish. I will also start working on a recipe for a high protein and filling meat sausage diet for the creature. I have been meaning to work on some new recipes anyways"** he smiled at Shadriabun **"Will this do my dear friend"**

**”I… I suppose that will do- though… I’d prefer if the fish were cut up *before* coming to the shop, if you may,”** he asked of Gh’uugh. **“It is still a young bird, so I don’t want to make it exhaust itself trying to eat a fish it can barely work with. But anyhow, for all of this… what is the tab?”** He asked, reaching down to his pocket for his cubit drive. **“I can’t just take your fish and your sausages without some kind of proper compensation, you know. That’s just not how I’m willing to work.”**

The Agatrop turned to his brother who brought the cart over to the chopping block and began to work his magic on the corpses of the large predators. While the sound of flesh being ripped and sliced could be heard in the room in front of them, Gh'uugh thought for a moment **"Lets say 300,000 cubits, 100,000 for each fish. Due to the danger of acquiring them"** He heard the sound of a hiss as his dear brother begun to work on the last fish. **"Will that work for you friend?"**

**”That is an agreeable price, my good sir,”** Shadriabun agreed, pulling out his drive in whole for Gh’uugh to make the transaction. **“Is there anything else you wished to discuss, or have both our issues been dealt with?”** He asked, taking a quick glance back to the entrance. **“I fear leaving the chick too long many have it under another biting spree in no time.”**

**”no that is all I believe. And hey, send any famished customers my way”** he waved Shadriabun off and looked to his brother who walked with the Theraki, fish cart being pushed alongside him. **“Have a good day Mr. Nil”**

### Agatropain Funeral Ceremony

Coming through the restaurant door was a young mail courier that looked to be around his early 20's, the man was a human, frail but tone. He came in and squeezed by Ciati and slowly handed Marbharoui a letter addressed to him by his father. While from the outside it looked innocent, Marbharoui hadn't heard from his father in some time, especially not since the South Tyvus War broke out in his home galaxy. He ripped open the paper letter with his good fang and pulled out a decently long ink written letter. He looked up from the letter for a moment and spoke to Ciati **"Excuse me for a moment, I must read this"** he said and sat back a bit as his lizard eyes scanned over the piece of paper. His eyes went slowly from bloody rage, to what looked to be shock and finally it went to a somber soft look.

He looked back up from the letter, glossy eyed and cleared his throat **"Uh, Ciati is it? I am afraid the restaurant is closed for the night. Please come back tomorrow and you will have your things all ready and hot. I am sorry to do this, but please leave"** he tried to put on a kind smile, sort of cringing for the fact he was having a hard time keeping his composure.

coming back from his sit down with Toggontomor, the old man walked slowly past Marbharoui after Ciati and any other restaurant customers had exited the shop. He put a hand on the young Agatropians shoulder and gave a pat before he went to the utility closet and took out a small can of lighter fluid and a long lighter. He came back, expecting Toggontomor to show up soon to be apart of the ceremony. Slowly he sauntered back in, he took notice as the lights dimmed and the candles began being placed down on the tables, in the center of the room was a birdbath like marble object, kindling and baked on ash from previous times of loss sat inside the bowl.

Marbharoui looked back to the old man for a moment and gave a somber smile as he looked back to the bowl and sighed, he went and sat on a stool by the reception desk, with a low volume noise his only good eye shed one singular tear. For other Agatropians who were close this was normal, but surely to many outside of the large lizards cultures this was bewildering, large militant creatures such as the Agatrops crying was a sight to see, but usually meant a different atmosphere than somberness.

**"Mind handing me the lighter?"** he looked to Gh'uugh who gladly gave it to the boy, once in his hands he held it for a moment to ponder if he is ready to begin the grieving process. He shook his head after a few minutes and set it down on the surface next to him and breathed.

As Gh'uugh handed Marbharoui the lighter, the door opened. Before the shop owner could yell at whoever it was to leave, a tell-tale rasping sigh came from the Mesui as he approached, looking over the scene with a quiet gaze.

There was not much to be said from the Pheonix of Tsetseg- his presence there was enough for him, he supposed. Even after all this time, he wasn't used to funerals or ceremonies like this. He knew he never would be.

Marbharoui looked over to Toggontomor and gave only a nod, he expected Gh'uugh to try and get him to come, in a strange way he was glad. Still he watched as one of the Agatropian waiters came out in robes reminiscent of a pope, or a priest and he watched as the man walked behind the kindling filled ceramic bowl and with a weak radiant burst he lit all the candles in the room. The makeshift druid looked around the room and nodded lightly before he took one of his clawed hands out of his robe pocket and put both hands forward in a clasped grasp. **"As the sisters as witness, and as our ancestors to grieve, the ceremony may start with the thing that gave the one we mourn today breath and hope. Do you have an item of her person, young Marbharoui?"** the druid said.

Marbharoui let out a shaky breath and nodded as he took a step forward to the ceramic object and took out an old black and white photo of young Marbharoui and his mothers, both his biological one and his fathers secondary love. He cared for both equally he realized, but he had already finished the grieving process of Crystain Thalganna. He held out the picture in his hand over the bowl, and looked up to the Druid who nodded for him to drop it in the bowl amongst the kindling. Marbharoui did just that, shakily but with strong composure he dropped the picture inside the bowl.

The druid brought his clasped hands down to the rim of the bowl, as he slowly inched his way onto bent knees. It was there that he spoke in a clear deep voice, not to anyone but seemingly the stars and the sky itself. **"With great sorrow it comes to our brothers and sisters, children of the stars above and beyond that the sisters of order and chaos chose to end this womans path too soon. Path she lived fully and with love, she will live another life and touch upon the future children her gift, the gift of compassion, the gift of motherhood or fatherhood, only the path of Dukoris knows which."** he slowly raised his hands up past the bowl and flattened each palm as if he were preaching with great respect.

**"We begin the grieving process, we must sacrifice a piece of the one we mourn and give that memory the same freedom to become new again, that Dukoris has given this woman. Her blood stands here today to begin the sacrifice, to turn her memories into ash, so that it may become something different.. something new."** he rose from his knees and stood tall and used one clawed hand to come down and motion Gh'uugh to step forward. **"It takes two to show the respect of our ancestors, you Mr. Bolordax, you have the necessary tools to allow her memories to escape and change. Bring them forward my friend"** he said with a hushing tone.

Gh'uugh slowly made his way to the bowl with the lighter fluid and a lighter, as he sauntered up he handed Marbharoui the lighter and he doused the picture and kindling with the fluid and set it down on a table without candles. Slowly he looked over to Toggontomor and back to the druid **"Will that be all father Bodanhei?"** he asked with a sad smile.

The Druid slowly nodded **"Yes, that is all that is needed from you my boy, you may seat yourself in the back.."** he mused for a moment with a hum, almost scanning the room for a moment before setting his eyes on the young Marbharoui again **"seeings as you have no legal guardians with you boy to share in your grief, do any of you in the back wish to step up and indulge in the process with him? Gh'uugh did his part in preparing the ceremony and releasing of the sacrificial fluids. But now... now we need closeness and one with hope for his future to continue on the last section of this sacred ritual"** he let his finger scan the room, it was all leathery and his nail was somewhat black and charred from age.

**"Which of you shall join in on this somber moment, any other one of you shall do.. though I warn you, the spirits and the sisters prefer when a boy has someone who has significantly enhanced him. Or.."** his eyes settled on Toggontomor **"Has changed him for the better.."** he gave the Mesui a knowing look for a moment, almost staring in his soul, looking for intention and pain. **"I shall give the crowd a moment to muse on this offering, the ceremony shall continue momentarily"**

**"I will indulge the process,"** Toggontomor insisted, stepping forwards with a brief look of assurance to Marbharoui and then back to the Druid. **"You may proceed."**

With a flash of his hand, the scaly and leathery palm opened up and slowly the candles burnt out around him, he looked back to the boy and the Mesui with glowing yellow eyes in the dark. He put his hand in his pocket and out he pulled minty sage of which he dropped into the bowl with the lighter fluid. He then took out his other hand and both went in the air. **“Yes.. you will suffice, you have it in your soul..”** he hissed out.

Slowly one of his hands came down and motioned them to take a step closer. **“Men of Radiant, wielders of flame. We need not a utensil to bring smoke and ash to cleanse this picture, to begin the young boys grieving process”** he said with a boom of his voice, his accent thick and raspy. **“No, you both have the flame in your hearts, you both shall use your powers to bring the process full force! Yes yes! Come.. show the ancestors the burning passion in your hearts. Guide her memories to new horizons, and to a new path”** he brought both hands back down and into his lap. He gazed through the darkness to each of them.

Hesitant to go ahead of Marbharoui, Toggontomor pulled his taloned hand upwards, motionless just above the bowl. He closed his eyes and focused himself. He focused on the energy- the charge of atoms in the air, the static energy in the air, which was beckoned between the two of them, and even the warmth of his own body as he focused it into his palm with a sharp inhale. The slight warm glow of the air beneath his hand was more than enough to light the bowl's contents.

Marbharoui followed soon after, he himself was hesitant to even use fire in his hands, only a month or two before he was using them to create such pain and destruction. Still, he took in a sharp breath and with a flick of his fingers his right hand lit with a burning hot violent flame, which showed he had been working on his powers. He sat his hand down in the bowl and made the flame larger as more heat was provided. The unmistakable scent of mint filled the air as well as a feeling of sadness wash over him. Once more a small tear came from his only working eye, something you barely ever saw an Agatropian do. He waited for the sermon to be finished by the Druid.

The Druid gave a raspy sigh as the final components to the ceremony ere added into the mixture, he clasped his hands together with a dry clap **"With the burning of memory, the reincarnation of it may proceed to the next life. Fire does not destroy, only change what it touches, much like many in this room have touched and changed Marbharoui to a new path, a new *calling*. Her spirit can be felt throughout the coming years even still beyond this sorrowful day. However, the pain shall leave, and in its place shall pleasantries come to mind as you recollect after grievance. May the Dukoris path always guide you my sons, my brothers, and my acquaintances. She is in the sands now, waiting for her next calling"** with that he went silent, out of respect and necessity for one singular moment. The faint sounds of leather boots and steel clad hitting wood planks and headed back to the kitchen for a breather could be heard. Only Toggontomor, Gh'uugh, and Marbharoui still stood in the same place.

Slowly the Druid left the building, and left the three men to give way to conversation. His job was done, and it was done well.

Marbharoui watched as the druid left the building and turned to Toggontomor **“hey thanks, uh.. thanks for being here old man”** he turned to Gh’uughs **“you too, older old man”** he smiled a bit, a sad one but a smile nonetheless.

**“I can be focused more by the time the games end.. and with luck maybe I will join her someday”** he said in a less than happy tone, but he tried to laugh it off.

**"... And in time, I suppose you may,"** Toggontomor agreed, stepping away from the bowl of fire and settling his wings behind his back. **"But you mustn't let your settling be your focus for the end. It must be the defiance against it. The rage against the dying of your fire. But for now... it is good for remembrance."**

Turning his gaze back to the fiery memorial, the Phoenix was silent for a few moments, before his beak turned back towards Marb. **"If... If I am to fall while you are at my side, then I ask you to fulfill my death wishes,"** he noted, turning back to the fire. **"... They can be discussed later."**

### Laska Twins and Mennyei

"I won, but *god* my head hurts," Dalka whined with a short laugh as she stumbled slightly in her way into the shack of snack. "It feels like someone just... Took a knife and went-" She explained as she held a pretend knife in front of herself before stabbing it through her forehead and made a quiet sound effect of what she would imagine such a thing to sound like. Her legs almost hurt as much as her head did, and she was still damp from her brief time in the arena's river.

"Well, that's what using all that telekinesis does when you haven't trained once for it, you *idiot*," Dobromil laughed, playfully patting Dalka's shoulder as she lead the way into the snack shack. "Putting all that heat on your brain... that's why you need a good drink and something to eat after all of that. And I heard from a couple of the other guys that this place is good place to grab something to eat," he insisted.

After a moment following her, Dobromil decided to come up to the side of his sister as they approached the counter-front of the Snack Shack. "A win without even getting popped, though? I think it was pretty good thinking on your feet, sis. Good job," he complimented, a genuine warm smile to her before it faded as he turned to the menu. "Now, then... what to get."

Dalka beamed over at her brother at his praise, wrapping an arm around behind him both for support and because she simply felt like it. With that, she turned her eyes over to the menu with a quiet hum. She quietly mumbled a few items to herself before stopping with a wide eyed stare. She lightly shoved herself against Dobromil to get his attention before gesturing her head at the menu. "Hey, hey, Dobro look! They sell *spiked* drinks," She scoffed, gawking at the notion with a bewildered expression, "Isn't that like the roofie stuff you told me to watch out for at bars?"

"... I don't think that's what they mean when they say spiked, Dalka," Dobromil said with utmost plainness, turning his head towards Dalka to make sure she knew this, before turning back towards the menu.

Not sure what to get, Dobromil waved his free hand to the Agatrops behind the counter. "Excuse me, sir? What would you say would be a good meal for an arena winner?" he asked, nodding to the both of them before looking back to him. "She's wore herself out, and we're both tired after that last bout."

Gh’uugh looked to the two with a tired smile, surprisingly he was there all set up before they arrived. He took out a cigar and lit it with his fire breath before shoving it in his mouth “my my, you lot won me a lot of money. So, in reparation, this ones on the house” he said before taking out one of the menu’s and scanning.

“I would say for the winner, a nice seasoned steak with fresh homefries, and some mashed potatoes.” He pointed to Dalka for a moment before slowly moving his finger to Dobromil.

“As for you, being a strong guy, id say Mashed Potatoes and gravy and chicken wings. Can throw in a dish of Tummy Tickling Torkacan Sauce if you wish. And if you both want, you can each have two bittersweet pastry puffs!” He gleefully exclaimed. Happy to have customers looking for his food, free or not.

"Oooh, that all does sound pretty good," Dalka chimed, smiling between Dobromil and Gh'uugh a few times before deciding for the both of them, "Yeah, we'll do that- the stuff you recommended! Could I also get a, uhh.... Uhm... A *spiked* milkshake!" She decided to trust Dobromil's intuition on the spiked goods not being spiked with roofies.

"Oh, can we share our stuff though? I wanna try the chicken wings too," Dalka requested of her brother.

"I think that's fair- as long as I get to try that shake too," Dobromil shot back, pointing a finger at his sister before nodding back to Gh'uugh for affirmation.

"I think that'll do us real well, thank you," the Levorite man agreed with a wide smile. "Say, uh... sorry if we don't provide the most *exciting* of bouts. We're team players, so on our own it can be a struggle to get things done." He nudged Dalka's shoulder with a snicker, "But at the end of the day, I think we come out better for it."

"Yeah, if they did team bouts, that arena wouldn't even be left standing with us in there," Dalka scoffed in agreement with a wave of her hand and a smug smirk on her face.

Gh’uugh nodded as they talked “I can add two shakes, one for each. Since its free, you *did* win me 18 quintillion” he gave a light smile and wrote down all of the items and clipped it to the order line, soon a large taloned hand came and ripped it off and the sound of pots and pans began.

“I saw no true guff with your bouts, Those that whine like pups about a long match shouldn’t be at the games. I say in the end, the ones fighting had fun and thats what matters” he said and took a large puff of his cigar, earning a wheezy breath. “Now, you Laska Twins can sit yourself down at the nearest table, the food will be with you shortly” he sat back in his chair and sighed.

Gh'uugh watched as two large waiters carrying the freshly cooked meals came out of the kitchen and waltzed over to the table closest to the shop owner. The foods were piping hot and for the most part looked fresh, he took out two beers and set them on the counter, one for each of the twins. "The beers are also on me, have a seat at the table with your food, and enjoy" he smiled.

Dobromil's eyes widened at the plethora of food brought out in front of him and his sister. Deftly grabbing his beer and feeling over its icy coolness on his hand, he would nod to Ghuugh with a great sense of humility.

"Wow, I wasn't expecting this much... thanks for everything," he showed his gratitude back to to the Agatrops before gesturing to Dalka. "C'mon. Let's take that table by the windows. I wanted to get a good look at that circus-tent thing over there from in here."

Dalka seemed to barely register her brother's suggestion, instead gawking over the food provided as she loosely followed him to the table by the window. As she sat down and the food was set in front of them, she immediately snatched one of Dobromil's chicken wings, taking a delighted bite out of it before remembering to let out a quick, "'Hank you!" with her mouth full of food before eagerly eating what she clearly found to be a delicious meal. Between chewing her food, she only took breaks to suck harshly from her milkshake's straw.

Ghuugh got up and went over and took a seat near them after he saw Dobromil looking to Shadriabuns bazaar. "You know, you want good customer servie you should check out the Emporium. The owner is young and a lot more lively than an old Agatropian like me" he grinned "But other than that, hes a real fine gentlemen, hell he has some friends up at the richest level of Vigila" he took out a napkin and coughed into it. "Id be careful with that shake, its got a decent alcohol content"

He scratched his chin for a moment before sighing "You guys are going on in the tournament arent'cha? I gotta keep betting on you kids, full of life and pretty damn good at fighing" he smirked "And don't be afraid to advertise how great the food here is"

As she walked in, Mennyei let out a sigh and fluttered her wings a bit. She limped over to the counter Gh'uugh was behind and looked up at him with tired eyes before she sat down. "Hey, give me whatever you have that's your strongest. Maybe mix that into somethin if ya feel like gettin all fancy with it. I don't know. Just gimme somethin ya like I guess." she muttered.

Ghuugh looked under the counter to the chilled drinks he had and took out a dark mahogany colored bottle with a bluish purple liquid inside. The glass made it look more dark purple but he took out a mug and poured some of the drink into it, as it came out the blue liquid showed to be much more appetizing in coloration. He rang the bell behind him "Hand me one of those fruits Marbharoui" he waited a second and felt a fruit get put in his palm.

He used his fang to crack open the hard skinned fruit and a rich green juice came out of it into the mug, with a stir of the drink with a metal straw he took out a bit of the fruits meat and left a slice of it wedged on the lip of the beverage holder. He slid it over to her and smiled, taking out a cigarette bud, half smoked and put it in his mouth and a breath of fire lit it up again. "Here ya go miss"

She caught the mug and looked at it and whatever it was it was certainly unique. Taking a slow sip, she tasted the drink, fluttering her wings as she felt her face heat up considerably. It certainly was strong but it didn't stop her from taking a bigger glup from her mug. "What's in this? It's good whatever it is."

"No idea!" he coughed a bit from his cigarette "The alcohol is from a business associate of mine named Inklyn, don't know what she brews the stuff with. But it does taste alright" he smirked and took a bit of the booze for himself "I will call the cocktail.. the Ghuughs surprise"

"Well it's good. Never heard of her, though I need to find more of this shit cus damn it's nice. You should put the cocktail on the menu, probably sell out of it." Mennyei said as she got progressively more wobbly where she was sitting, using her wings occasionally to balance herself. She had the goofiest looking smile on her face as she sipped the drink. Looking more closely at her would reveal that she still had some bandages around her torso for the various fights she lost.

Ghuugh thought for a moment before he sat back and poured a large flow of the bottle down his throat. “One for my bad health..” he took another large pour and set the empty down in front of Mennyei. “And one for when I am gone” he smirked and took out another bottle for her and took out a small bottle of fruity Torkacan wine.

He mixed the drinks as if he were a skilled mixologist, his eyes trained on just the right amount before he used a big enough lid on the mug to cover it and shook it real good before sliding the new concoction to her. “I may do just that. Though, I feel inclined to let these two be our little secret”

"It's your shop you're the boss." Mennyei said with a little giggle as the alcohol really started to kick in. She took the mixed drink and sipped it, enjoying the flavor she might not remember the next day. She looked back at the Laska twins, remembering that Dalka just won a big fight. "Hey Dalka, good job on the whole winnin thing. Watched ur fight and it was real impressive."

Quietly interrupting the start of their conversation, he noticed her quick deterioration into non-sobriety "You might wanna go easy on the drinks here kid, most of this stuff is fitted best to alcoholic *Agatrops*" he tittered and went back to writing something down. "Just don't drink too much of the stuff, it will come back up like ground glass"

"Heh.. hehe... Hehehehehe... Don't worry Agotroope guy dude. I'll be okay I am just real short and stuff and yeah I think you get it" She giggled in her increasing level of drunk

While Dalka was always happy to receive some praise on her fighting prowess... She didn't know who the hell this drunkard was. "Heeey, thanks," She awkwardly replied. It was bad enough talking to strangers, but inebriating them on top of that when she was trying to eat? She just wasn't sure how to handle it. She shuffled herself in her seat, trying to subtly point herself slightly away from Mennyei as she sipped on her milkshake and acted like the circus tent Dobromil mentioned was suddenly very interesting.

Shooting a hard glare to the angel-like drunkard, Dobromil tried to turn his attention away from Mennyei, looking back over to the tent he had mentioned before. But the more Mennyei slurred and giggled about in her drunkenness, the more it irritated him. He could stand his sister drunk because it was his sister. She may have been just as volatile, but it was Dalka- he knew what he was going to handle with her. With this girl though... what he didn't know was making him very anxious.

"... Dalka," he mumbled to his sister, before gesturing with a nod to Mennyei. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Dalka's eyes glanced between Mennyei, her brother, her milkshake, and the window a few times before she soon guessed what her brother was thinking with a slow nod. "I think so," She quietly replied before quickly stuffing a few cut up chunks of steak into her mouth, taking a sip from her milkshake's straw, and giving her brother another nod.

"Anyways, I best be going now" She said as she polished off the last of what Ghuugh had given her, handing him her drive to pay for the drinks. She hopped down from the chair she was sitting in and had surprisingly good balance for someone who had just had enough booze to probably make an Agatropes drunk.

### Ghuugh and Mahire

Ghuugh finally sauntered back into the shack and sat back down behind the desk he grew so fond of, he sat back in his leather chair and sighed before grabbing a big whiskey bottle for himself and pouring 5 shots. "*Tel'lehacht*" he toasted to himself and took a shot of the dark rich brown liquid before cringing at its strength for a moment before coughing it down.

Peering out from where she was waiting, she'd look both ways with her arms crossed before cautiously moving across the distance, eventually stepping through the doors into the now practically empty snack shack. She'd peer over at Gh'uugh, a sympathetic look in her eyes,

"Shop keeper..." She'd say in her rough accent, "...Is this a good time, or should I come back later?"

Ghuugh downed another shot of the strong stuff and coughed hard before waving her in "nono, its a good time. Sorry you had to deal with all of that mess, I swear if it had been me in there, I would have punted the little thing" he said with a growl before returning to his drink. "Come, sit down at one of the stools by me, and tell me what you wished to have" he gave a little smile

She gave a nod and made her way over to the stool, setting herself down with a growl mixed with a sigh, resting an arm on the counter, "a strange creature to have caused all of this, I saw them depart with the hooded figures and that was that."

She pulled up a menu and looked it over, giving a shake of her head and a shrug, "but I shall have the... Breakfast waffle, with blood jelly and poached eggs. Aratacian smoked sausage too."

"With a coffee, black." She'd finish with, giving a gentle tap with her fingers on the menu as she moved it to the side. She had heard of this kind of breakfast before, that people in a far off kingdom with a flag of yellow white and black would partake in, it was something to try at least now that she was here.

Ghuugh nodded slowly as he took his final shot and put a cork in the bottle he had and put it down under the counter, one of his cooks had already heard what she ordered and started preparing the meal. Ghuugh on the other hand gave a raised brow to her "you sure you want the blood jelly? thats more of a krizovian vampire thing.." he said with some surprise in his voice.

"If you want it you can have it though"

Krizovian... Vampire... She had never heard of either term.

She would give a shrug, "I would be fine with it, yes."

"Alright" he shrugged and turned around to his coffee machine kept mostly for employees and start working on it for her, it was the least he could do but he did not feel to great while doing it. He poured in the water and let it boil, he put in the beans and let the machine do the rest of the work. Slowly the sweet scent of waffles filled the air, and the sizzling of sausage could be heard from the pans.

Ghuugh smiled a bit as he sat back down, sighing as he could finally relax a bit, he watched his servers ding the bell to the backside of him, he swirved his chair and took the plate before turning and putting it down in front of Mahire. He grabbed a mug and poured out the coffee and put it next to the plate. On it was a deep golden brown plate of waffles, the puffy poached eggs cooked and served gently so they would not bust open. And to the left of the waffles were two large golden brown sausages. He grabbed a syrup pitcher and set it down next to the plate as well, the pitcher was heated on a hotplate a tiny bit so that it wasnt just cold syrup to pour.

"Enjoy your meal Mahire, you earned every bite" he smiled to her.

The corners of her mouth raised, a slight smile, again the most she could do; she gave a nod towards him, "thank you."

Beginning to eat; she enjoyed her meal, from the seasoned sausage to even the blood jelly, to her it was all protein enough, and drinking blood for survival wasn't necessarily something that was out of the picture. To have blood that was actually properly prepared was a good change of pace, especially when paired with the sausage or even the waffles. The waffles, while nice, admittedly put her more carnivorous metabolism on edge; but she was here to experiment.

Downing some of her coffee, she twirled a fork over towards Ghu'uugh's direction casually; "so what did he do anyways, the reptile that caused all of that."

"Apparently he had a void entity with him" he said nonchalantly and shrugged "tried to use it to eat our flatdog" he took out a cigarette from under his front desk "mind if I?" he questioned

She shook her head, "no, not at all."

"But his place is... Very nice with it's looks," she'd say, taking another drink of her coffee, "in the North, where I am from, he would be brought out in chains-- Roughly."

Ghuugh nodded along to that before lighting his cigarette with his fire breath and stuck it in his mouth. "Where I am from? well, there is a reason why there is a giant clan of exiles, there are void users mixed in with them. Most get shot in both knees and left out in the barren deserts to rot still alive" he said and continued to smoke. He sighed "but yeah, its very much a taboo, its part of the reason we hate the New Adresaas Dominion. Their leader was brought back by the void, a nasty fellow you probably know of" he shrugged and sat back and took his own coffee and poured some for him.

She thought for a moment, seemingly confused,

"I don't know of this New Adresaas Dominion actually, is it a nation in Aoshtai?"

"God no, they wouldn't have been allowed to even reform here. No, they are a Selten Nation, the place all Agatrops are from. Ruled by the tyrant Ardius Thalganna II, scorn of 10,000 years ago during the Grand Seltian War. Nasty man, but thats no matter; he cant come in here" he took a gulp of hot coffee and sighed, relieved to have some caffeine in him.

"I have heard some things of Selten..."

She scratched her chin for a moment in thought, "...Our traders have gone there, to a Realms of Selten, but I do not know much more."

She shrugged, "either way, it is good they cannot come here, Aoshtai suffers enough from its tyrants as it is."

"Yes that is true, we do not have enough leaders for the people. Look at the Veritas Crisis, its all because people cant let go of the past, and because everyone thinks they know whats best for people" he sighed and then took another sip of coffee.

"So, the food good then?"

"It's just politics to me, personally."

She'd nod towards the food, "the good is good though, yes. It is good to experience this, only a year ago sitting in a restaurant of any kind seemed impossible for me."

He just smiled at the notion and took a newsletter out for himself to read about the Emperors latest needs on the Majelonis problem "Yeah its all politics.. and hey you are always welcome back dear, I do not discriminate. You ever need to just sit down and vent to me, im here doin nothing" he shrugged and finished up his coffee with a happy sigh "Doors gonna be open for a while longer, so you can always stop by"

### Mennyei and Davide

Davide strolled into the snack shack with a thirst and a few bruises evident on his cheek. He had a big smile on his face though and sat at one of the stools near Mahire and looked to the large Agatropian "Hello! Im Lerins brother, here to buy a couple drinks for a lady. See who can knock them back more" he smirked, to whick he saw Ghuugh scoff and took out a large moonshine bottle which made a thud when it hit the counter. "Yeah, that'll do"

Mennyei walks in behind him, seeming a little roughed up but over all her usual self as she took a seat next to Davide.

Ghuugh waved to them before his telecomunicator went off and he looked at the message, his face went sour and he stood up and yelled to Marbharoui "Marbharoui! get out here and serve these two. I gotta do something" he said and went into the other room where his brother held the fort in the butchers shop. While no one could properly hear what was being said, they could tell it was Ghuugh screaming.

After a few more minutes of loud yelling, seemingly all by Ghuugh, a scaly fist rammed through the wooden door. The fist that came through the other side was obviously the shop owners, but the screaming stopped soon thereafter. "Do not fuckin do that again with my business! I may be old and dying but I swear to you boy! You do not mess with my friends!" he yelled again and then came out of the room coughing harshly before storming out of the shop to cool off.

She looked over to Davide with a look of concern. "Damn, that's not like him I don't think I like that very much."

He gave a reassuring smile "Sounds like the guy just had a bad day, he had a horrible night if I remember correctly" he shrugged and watched as Marbharoui took the place of Ghuugh and poured the rich purple liquid into two shotglasses for the two. "Thank you friend, and hey" he took out a cubit drive of 40,000 cubits and placed it on the table. "Thats for me and Mennyei"

As she looked at the cubit drive, her eyes widened. "Wow... That's ... that's a lot just for drinks... Are you sure?"

"That is appreciated." She'd say to Gh'uugh before he departed, giving another subtle smile. Finishing off with her meal, she'd give a nod to Davide as he sat down next to him, a nod of acknowledgement. Starting to lift herself off the stool, she'd notice the commotion happening in the back of the shop, and the fist going through the door, but otherwise wouldn't pay too much mind to it. "Again, I thank you for the meal." She'd say to Marb, giving a nod, before heading out.

Davide nodded to Mahire and gave a small salute of two fingers to the head before leaning on the counter with his drink in hand before turning to Mennyei "of course im sure, thats really not much money" he smirked and took a long sip of it before choking back a cough. "*shit...* that is strong. Not as strong as the mash my family distills" he said

"Yeah... It's real good though. Apparently made by this Inklyn chick. Never heard of her but I gotta figure out who she us." She said as she took a sip of her drink. "Where do ya come from anyways"

"Come from over in the Hytaxia region of the Golden Realm. Got a big family in Kapricai, if you've heard of the place that is" he shrugged and took another sip. "Mostly just do jobs for my family, or whoever hires me. I get treated like a errand boy." he swirled his drink with a little frown. "Its okay though! its good work!" he smiled.

"I mean I come from a company who has entire teams devoted to running errands basically. Though it can be deadly at times... I don't know a whole lot about my family. Must be nice to have such a big one."

Davide thought on that one for a good moment "I have heard a lot about your mailing services, my brother is a big fan of your boss. Akim is it..?" he questioned and then he remembered that was the name. "Ah yes Akim, you may remember Lerin. He is definitely a fan" he smirked before sighing and leaning back with the drink. "Having a big family though? Nah, to me its kind of hectic, I prefer to stick with a small group of people"

"Oh Akim? Yeah he's the new Ear of God but I have more then one boss really. I've met him a few times and from those I've talked to who know him better say he's really sweet." She took another sip of her drink. "Though I've always wondered about the rest of the galaxy. Don't get me wrong, Veer is a lovely place, but I would rather much prefer to be a messenger then a guard"

"Well the Mantalli Family visits a lot of places, and we are always looking for members" he shrugged and tapped the table for another shot, which was happily provided to him. He took a sip and groaned "The galaxy is a beautiful place, filled with beautiful people yknow? Many don't get to see it for all its got. But traveling it all on someone elses dime is a real experience" he smiled and turned to Marbharoui "Could you get me a burger please?" he watched the Agatropian smile and nod before barking orders to the kitchen.

"It sounds wonderful to see all that. Even though a lot of messengers come back with stories of war and... And... Awful things that are so bad they can't even describe it... So many more come back talking about how beautiful everything is." She looked a little sad and also has a little red blush as she took another shot.

He kind of gave her a look of concern and hiccuped "Maybe you should slow down on that.." he said and sipped his. He hiccuped again "But.. the many different homeworlds and colonies are whats beautiful, so many different colors and wildlife. Honestly, I could stare at all of them for hours. Life is beautiful because people in it keep it beautiful, get rid of those people and the world becomes a bit more dim" he finished his last shot and paid the man "I think I am done drinking for now"

He grabbed his burger and took a bite out of it and sighed before placing it down "If you ever wish to see Kaprazia, I am sure I could fly you there sometime. Its real beautiful, has its own rings! Like a gas giant" he smiled "beautiful purple rings.. glistening and shimmering."

"Ya know ....Sometime I think we show maybe ....Go on a date." She said as she hid her face when she realized what she just said.

Davide stared for a moment and scratched his chin “sure why not” he said nonchalantly and finished his burger “but, maybe you should sober up and ask me again in the morning. Just to be sure you wanna date a Mantalli”

"Yeah... My answer probably won't change though ya know. Though I probably should rest soon, I'll have one killer hang over waiting for me though"

he smiled a bit and chuckled “yeah you are gonna really need some painkillers tomorrow. Agatropian moonshine is painful” he said and ate some fries and gave a light fistbump to Marbharoui

"Probably gonna have to call Akim or Noi or somethin cus I might not be movin cus I've had more then enough to drink today"

”Im sure if they are your friends they wouldn’t mind coming here to pick you up. Im probably just gonna go have a smoke and then find some place to sleep soon” he said and took a cigarette out. “Its been nice meeting you Mennyei, your a pretty damn good fighter too”

"If ya need a place to stay, I have a spare room. I was supposed to have a partner come with me but it didn't work out"

”ah nah, wouldn’t feel comfortable. No offense to you of course” he scratched the back of his neck. “I usually actually go find some place outside to sleep. Find a nice patch of grass and sleep under the stars”

"Okay, suit yourself. I'll see you around. Not hard to find me if ya need to find me."

Davide frowned “ehh sure why not, Ill take you up on the offer. May as well” he shrugged. “Besides, Ill bring some more booze back for you tomorrow afternoon” he smirked.

"Heh, thanks. Probably shouldn't be drinkin this much though. Oh well I'll figure it out later"

”Well, We have probably taken up enough of Marbharouis time here eh?” He yawned and hiccuped “god these damn hiccups. Alcohols only curse spare hangover” he frowned “wanna get going? Or want me to buy you food to go”

"I'm not real hungry, but thanks anyway. Thanks Marb, see ya around" She said as she hopped off the stool and walked towards the door.

”no problem! See you guys around, and hey! Discount for you guys” he said and watched as they left the store. He smirked and went to cleaning the shot glasses. He watched Ghuughs presence come back and go to his office, he seemed calm again so that was good.

### S.A.R.D, Peroline, Raphael, Ardius, Ghuugh, and Marbharoui

The human woman, way too tall to be an average human, her stature being around nine-foot, opened the shack's door in a carefully coordinated manner. Her swallow tailcoat swayed somewhat as she walked in, her casual shirt and tie remained mostly stationary in contrast. She took a cold glimpse around the room before silently taking a seat. She sat stiff, moving a few strands of her bangs away from her centre-face before resting her hands down on the counter that stood before her, her white gloved hands clasped into each other perfectly.

Marbharoui watched the strangely tall figure come into the restaurant with confusion. He had never seen a human so tall so it was a bit weird. He shrugged and cleaned the last shotglass as he walked over to where she sat before putting the glass away “what is it you are here for” he asked in a monotone voice.

The woman gave a glance beyond the curtain of her bangs, her light blue eyes somewhat being visible from this angle; she responded in an equally, if not more, lifeless tone, "your establishment is said to vend beverages and general cuisine of Agatropian origin, as well as other sources. I am intrigued by both that and the public rumors of what recently occurred here. Tell me, what would you order personally?"

Marbharoui sighed and took out the menu. “Personally I would suggest flatdog nuggets with Tummy Tickling Torkacan Sauce” he said in a bored tone. “So” he said and took out a shot of whiskey for himself. “What type of Android are you? You like ZAVI? Or are you one of those weird fleshy fleshy robots” he nonchalantly made small talk as he poured the liquid. “You aren’t a Gladreburger drone are you?”

The woman turned full face to Marbharoui, "perceptive, I see" she stated simply before facing back forwards, now looking at the menu she had in her grasp, "no, I don't belong to any of those, nor do I believe I'm well acquainted to them," she took another quick glance at the lizard before looking back forwards again, "I see you're not of the kind I was expecting. Marric, I assume? I doubt you're from the Dominion, judging by your physiology, if you are then when I mention the acronym name of the 'S.A.R.D', you should automatically be familiarised to me."

Marbharoui gave a yawn “yeah im the presidents son, though I share a name with the Dominions leader. Surname and all that” he shrugged and took the shot of whiskey before groaning. “Got no idea what a S.A.R.D is. Nor anything about you, have heard my father mention you in historical senses” He wrote down what he assumed would be the order of flatdog nuggets and sent them back. “The Dominion is not much different than the Marric in some instances, both militaristic and imperialist. Much like the Empire of Pomeria” he poured another shot for himself.

The machine gave a scoff to this, "yes, yes, so many nations similar in militaristic value yet many lacking in common courtesy. The Marric is at least respectable, from what I've researched, while the Dominion is an attempted revival of ancient ideals. I'll tell you what though," it gave a glance around before lowering its tone of voice, "they sure didn't run out of surprises from the Void. Speaking of which, I heard such an occurrence manifested itself here not too long ago" it gave a soft smile of sorts.

The Agatrops eyes squinted and he gave a low hiss at the notion “The Marric aint respectable. We inject people with Fluoroantimonic acid into people who betray our nation, or harm our youth. Our own war councilor was swayed to the dark side and did unspeakable things as a traitorous bastard” he said a bit loud. As the food was almost done being prepared he snarled “And, it would be in your best interest to not make too much notion of what happened here. Its not for discussion, as it brings unwanted attention here” he said and took a deep breath. “The world is a shit place robot, don’t expect anyone to have courtesy”

It took off its gloves and put them into its outer pockets as it spoke, "Your views on life are pessimistic. Not very healthy, if I do say so myself. If the world is so unpleasant then find a way to change it, I know I did. If your concern lies in the tame ways of the Marric, then you mustn't compare them with the Dominion. If you want to see true barbarianism worse than acidic executions then merely learn of the Dominion's past, or of its predecessor the Adresaas Republic. If you so be curious, feel free to drop on by the Seltedom to see the abhorrent history of their actions, and maybe mine too if you believe as such, not meaning to self-advertise of course... Speaking of names, you wouldn't happen to be Ghuugh, would you? You don't seem to fit the description I was expecting if you are."

The young Agatropian shook his head "Im Marbharoui Thalganna. Ghuugh is in his office, been a stressful two days so he isn't really here to respond" he listened as a ding signified the food was done and he grabbed the plate through the window behind him and sat it in front of the robot. "Pessimism is only a realists world view. World is filled with scum, maybe a few good people but not enough" he said and poured yet another shot for himslef and took it "My own species knows it only takes a few bad apples to ruin a pie. Look how the Vigilians look at us, they see us as less than anything. They even see *Tesar* as more important than us, the ones that slaughtered many of my people and dragged some to this fine galaxy"

It faced Marbharoui again, "while that's true, it's not a rational conclusion to hold such values. You need to find a perfect medium between pessimism and optimism. The stigma held around your people has been around since the Adresaas days, and their revival hasn't helped at all, but the Unified Realms of Selten shows that compatibility in a multi-species society attaining Agatrops is achievable. If anything, I would blame those who discriminate against your kind for upholding such thoughts, then again, we can't blame them either. There are few fully-Agatropian nations and for the most part they've all been violent to some extent, from the Adresaas to the Marric to the Clans of Torkac, although I'd argue that the Clans are far more civil than the other two. Point in hand, you could say the Vigilians, or any other species, is as bad as the Agatrops, after all, look how many countless conflicts have taken place in their blood. Everyone is focusing on Agatropian evils as a way of hiding their own discrepancies, and while I can agree that Agatropian culture can be brutishly evil if executed incorrectly, it is compatible. The Tesar were far worse than you ever were, all I can say is reform your own nations, but that's easier said than done."

It took out a black notepad and pen and begun writing on it, "in due time the Unified Seltian Agatrops will be a prime example of a civil Agatropian culture, maybe even the Clans will bring a good name to the species too, and hopefully in time the Adresaas and the Marric will have themselves diminished. They bring no good name to your kind," it said solemnly.

"Except for when it does" he said walking into the Snack Shack with fervor, noticing his son his face softened. He said nothing but went up and sat down next to the obvious robot. Took out a cigar and lit it, shoving it in his mouth he smoke in muffled tones "The Marric Union is the best face for the Agatropian People, we have secured democracy for our species. And if history serves correctly, no matter what the Adresaas did; you nearly destroyed our homeworld, the birthplace of our cultures." he said and blew smoke in the S.A.R.Ds face "You have not the right to speak of your own nation as a prime example when so far all the Unified Realms have done is destroy it as much as the Dominion" He turned to Marbharoui and nodded, understanding he must be working at this establishment.

The S.A.R.D reached for a nugget and took small bites at it before giving a mild chuckle and then a slight smile to this statement, "you cannot paint on a second-hand canvas, even you know this. If you're so concerned about my nuclear bombardments of Adrealis, a world not even of your own, literally the equivalent of your primordial soup, then the countless nuclear wars your species has had on that planet must have you trembling. What I did was justified or otherwise Selten would be under Adresaas footing, and let us not forget that the 'culture' of Adrealis was far more different to what you perceive it as now. The abandonment of his own people was Ardius the Second's treason against the Adresaas and the entire Agatropian species. Let's not talk about who did worse or how the Marric is best for the Agatropian people."

It gave a look to Ardius now before crossing its legs gleefully yet speaking in a stern undertone, "I'm glad that I came in a human chassis. Tell me, how are the homo sapians of the Marric Union? I'm sure Agatrops are well treated of course, but to call it a democracy is a lie. Don't lie to yourself for even your son knows this. The Agatropian oligarchs of your nation spit on the humans. Maybe if you learnt to treat other species with courtesy the rest of the universe wouldn't hold these stigmas against you, this is something your son has come to understand and that's something I can respect him for, and he's not even in a position of leadership as of current. You're no better than the Adresaas. Shame on you."

With a flick of its fair black hair, the S.A.R.D turned to Marbharoui once more, speaking in a far lighter voice, "dear, forgive me for asking but do tell me if you will, is Ghuugh in fine health? I've heard that his complexion isn't that of well as of late and I'm sorry to hear as such. This here cuisine, while untastable due to me being of mechanical origin, are a marvellous form of art in themselves no doubt,"

it gave a light smile once more, this one being far more genuine than the last given to Ardius.

"Under my administration the humans are being given much more equality, you think I do not understand what my own kind has done?" he puffed on his cigar before continuing "We also know what humans have endured under the Marric Unions previous government, something we are currently trying to amend for. We are much better for the Agatropian people, plus we don't turn our own kind into genetic abominations" he squinted with a knowing look. He hissed at how the S.A.R.D spoke of his nation "If you are to drag on about how bad my nation is, maybe you should take note about how yours cleaned house with its overseers many different times. Including one Overseer Trient, your nation has provided just as much barbarity towards other species as mine, such being you allowed the Xen Paradigm to continue its existence. A people that I have no doubt were responsible partially for my wifes death" he said angrily in the moment not realizing his son was there to hear that.

Ardius shut up for a minute, bringing up a sour wound for him and his son. "Just, we know how the past has treated humans, but do not compare us to the Adresaas. At least we are trying to change for the better and not cling to old ways." he said and held back a few tears as he started remembering his wife.

"If you are both done bickering over the past and present. I can speak" he said narrowing his eyes to his father once his mom was brought up. "Ghuugh is.. well he is--"

Ghuugh came out of his office with a huff and a cough before lightly moving Marbharoui out of his way to take his place "Go be with your father, son" he shooed Marbharoui away and looked to Ardius at first "you should go be with your son for a while, you two need to mend things" He turned to the robot and spoke "I am dying if thats what you want to hear. I got 2 years at most and I am not in the mood to disclose any more, so take your information and do with it what you will" he said sternly, less in a really agitated tone but more in a fatherly or grandfatherly fashion.

Another human of sorts entered, also about the same height as the S.A.R.D. He came in wearing long white garments of sorts, trousers and a long sleeved top-half with an additionally white golden-sewn stole that hung down from his neck. What appeared to be a long cape trailing behind him abruptly split into two, then four, then into six individual wings all stretched out before relaxing and staying by his side as he walked. His hair was of the same black and his eyes were of the same blue tone of the S.A.R.D's. He began walking towards the S.A.R.D to take a seat besides it, "sorry to hear about that," he said in his formally loud yet respectful tone, "haven't you considered finding a donor or cybernetic replacements?" He inquired as he took the menu the S.A.R.D was holding to take a look for himself.

"Because I care not for when I die. My affairs are all in order, plus I would not desecrate my body with cybernetics. It is not the Dukoraan way" he said a bit bitterly. "I am at peace with the time I have left, prolonging life beyond what the Dukoris Path has decided is sinful and I wish not to deduct karma for my end" he corked the whiskey bottle Marbharoui had left out and put it under the counter.

"Point taken." He gave a glance around the place, taking a long eyeful of the stain glass windows and such, "nice place you've got here. Who's serving?"

The S.A.R.D responded, "I believe that'd be Marbharoui Thalganna over there, although I believe he's busy as of right now handling his passive aggressive father who points fingers at the death of an already ill Overseer when everyone has already heard of that funny coincidence where a Tyravian War Councillor was found slaughtered. It's convenient when all your opposition just happens to disappear, die or change political beliefs in a matter of days to support your own rise to power. Quite convenient indeed. Good thing they never found anything that linked back to him." It turned around and gave him another smile, this time showing its teeth in a cheeky manner, before turning back again.

Raphael coughed to this, as if he had just choked upon his own saliva, "two Thalgannas in the same place? I haven't seen one proper up close, how intriguing." He turned his body fully to face Marbharoui, "this is quite the family reunion. I, Seraph Raphael Israfil, am pleased to make your acquaintance," he said with a nod as his wings stiffened to attention before relaxing once again.

Marbharoui frowned and he seemed angry before sort of brushing off Raphael and turned to the robot "I may complain and have pessimistic views. But that is my father, you show some damn respect in my presence, in the place that I work. Customer or not I do not care, you have no right to judge a man you know little about, the things you do know are substantial and above the surface, so you best show your damn respect while he is here" he slammed his fist down in front of the S.A.R.D. "I will not have you slander my family, because you do not know us" his fist on the table got warm and seemed to go red before fire creeped up from between the palms. "You are best to watch yourself talking about any more politics in this establishment"

The S.A.R.D looked at his fist, unamazed, "the man who despises his father also despises people who despise him. Ironic. Go on then, handle your fatherly issues. I have nothing more to say"

"Only family can dislike family without judgement" he said and turned and went to his father who was probably already in the back chatting with the cooks, he had that way about him. Being able to strike up conversation for the sake of conversation without any regret.

Ghuugh sat down behind the counter in his chair and coughed up a bit of mucus from his lungs and wiped it on a cloth before throwing it in the wash bin. "Now.. now that thats over, may I get you anything?" he said with a bit of a heavy breath to Raphael "We got lots of good food, but not much for Seltians, since You are a new species never seen to me before. You remind me a bit of the Kurlack, but you are a bit more .. deformed"

Making their way through the door of the snack shack would be a diminutive figure, though despite their size they would be eye-catching in their appearance; a form of black and white that clashed with their surroundings, something unnatural, yet here they were-- A lady with raven black "hair" that went to her shoulders, and a black dress that fit to their form. Coming with a small entourage of a few confidants, these would disperse through the restaurant and take their seats, presumably to order their own meals; the lady herself, Peroline, would make way for the counter. Weightlessly lifting herself up, she'd take her seat besides the S.A.R.D and would take a menu, looking it over with a gentle smile.

Ghuugh smiled when Peroline walked through the door, slightly happy someone new and more presentable was here. “Ah! Young Péroline! It is nice to see a lady of such standing in my Restaurant. What can I get you my dear” he said with some calm happiness. “Can I get you any plants or myrkrat? I know you cannot eat conventionally” he wiped down the counter so it was cleaner,

"Oh, yes!" She'd say, giving a nod as she slid the menu over to the side and out of the way. "Some plants sliced together in a salad, that would be wonderful, thank you." "But truly the pleasure is mine, this is quite the fine establishment you have-- Though I suppose Her Grace Kiseleva *does* know how to pick them." She'd look over at S.A.R.D, "and you? Of who do I have the pleasure of sitting with? I hope I don't cause offense, but I've never quite seen someone like you before."

The feminine figure of the automaton took a glance through the side of her bangs at the woman that had made herself present. It returned its silken gloves once more from its pockets to its hands, lightly pushing the plate towards Raphael, "you have them," it turned its head fully to face her before clasping its palms again onto the table before it, "No offence taken. Why, same could be asked to you. I've never encountered any of your sort beyond the Tattered Spiral," it gave a sudden, warm grin, "I'm the Systematically Advance Resolution Drive, or simply known as S.A.R.D, or the S.A.R.D, whichever suits you. Who may you be my amiable friend and where do you hail from?" Its eyes scanned up and down her body for a moment before restoring eye-contact, it then proceeded to pull down at its black tailcoat before tucking in its shirt some more and fixing up its additionally dark tie, "you do hold a sense of style based on your garments alone, if I do say so myself."

The man let out a loud yet quick chuckle to Ghuugh's remarks as he took the nuggets from the S.A.R.D, "Indeed, I can agree with you there. I assume you're referring to that winged fellow who passed not too long ago with the horned man? Forgive me for lack of grasp on the species of Aoshtai, this is my first time leaving Selten after all," he brought his hand to his chin, his curled index finger barely covering his mouth as if he was thinking, "I'm astonished to find out that there are other winged individuals that belong to the homo genus as myself," he gave a look over the menu before pointing at something, "what's the difference between a Blood Jelly Bud and a Pulled Meat Blood Jelly, if I may inquire?" he looked to Ghuugh awaiting a response as he pulled at one of his long white sleeves and then began to scratch at his own neck with his gloved hands.

"You flatter me!" She'd stifle a chuckle, "but it's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Péroline Thibault, Distinguished Assistant for the Chancellor of Krizovia, Kudryavtsev Artemovich. It isn't so often that I'm in the presence of leaders as distinguished as you; our two lands don't have much business but even I know that name." "I just didn't recognize your *physical* form is all, heh; so if I may ask, what brings you to this place? Assuming for the games?"

Ghuugh just left the two alone to their talking, grumbling something about robots weirding him out and dinged the serving bell behind him three times before saying something in Agatropian that neither could understand to the chefs. "***Halhetch! Halhetch! Politischt Figier Vwicht!***" he continued "**Gyemucht Werfen Luchenspitten**" he coughed a bit as he strung out the last pair of words.

It gave a two quick nods to her, "you would be correct in that assumption. Raphael over there," it tilted its head in a quick motion towards the Seraph, "took an abrupt interest in journeying outside of the Unified Realms for experience sake, and I myself haven't had much contact in this galaxy beyond that of trade with the inhabitants of this place. Knowing Raphael's skillfulness in combat, after all, he is a Legionaris, I thought it be best to bring him here. At the same time I've assigned myselves to running an establishment dedicated to Seltian history and technology: the Seltedom, ranging from artifacts I've attained over the past one-hundred thousand years to utility to even firearms to some extent."

"As for my physical form, it varies to some lengths. This here unit isn't connected to the superintelligence derived on Heitec, therefore I'm operating based on last-contact until I return, that and the fact that I specifically carry the necessary components to hold monetary and social information, allowing me to act as an individual to some extent, so you could technically call me the S.A.R.D and not the S.A.R.D at the same time. I'm basically different compared to the average S.A.R.D mechanism. I have a few bodies ranging from species to species, but today I chose a Homo-Restaurata chassis merely on a whim. Forgive me for my intrusive behaviour, but are you a Wraith of sorts? I've heard of such beings yet I've never had direct contact let alone hold documents explaining them extensively."

She'd give an enthusiastic nod, "mhm, a Podkra Wraith to be exact. We're psionic life native to Krizovia; not to be confused with our northern brethren of course." "Anyways, that's really quaint, running your own store! I've always wondered what that'd be like, but I went down a different path-- Your companion though, I must know more about them, you said they're a warrior?" She leaned forward a little more over the counter so she could get a look at Raphael, her hair hanging down to one side as she did this.

It gave a polite nod to her inquiry once more, "to call him a warrior would be akin to calling me a machine. His anatomy is built for such tasks. Back during the days of the Grand Seltian War I mingled far more into the world of genetics than I should have. The Unified Realms required a unit of soldiers capable of fighting back against the oncoming Adresaas threat. Our refined forms of Fabian warfare had held them back for a while but it wouldn't last forever. The Legionaris were constructed out of every species in the Unified Realms, ranging from Sards to newly integrated Agatrops to Aoshanti to Homo-Restaurata to several others. Back during the Calypsian Conflict where the denizens of Heitec were forced underground for several decades, we touched upon the idea to some extent but terminated any further experimentation due to both monetary issues and a lack of backing, even in this dire time when the Sard species was at the brink of extinction."

"The Legionaris were originally planned to only be produced in the thousands, but we exceeded our output goals by the millions for their use was far greater than we ever anticipated. Soon enough our Legionari forces had turned the tide of the war and we were advancing into the Adresaas Republic. They were a true staple to both the war-effort and the Seltian medical field as a whole. Once the war had concluded, with the Adresaas officially surrendering to the Rotalat Allied Powers, the Legionaris collective required integration. Due to the mass quantity of modifications made to them they mostly live in their own communities, which we so aptly named "Houses" according to each Legionaris subspecies. While they do mingle outside of these communities they appear to get along with other forms of Legionaris far better than the average denizen. Raphael has shown his merit in society, showing an interest in medicine, and thanks to his gifted physique and his interest in Aoshtai I have brought him to experience the universe."

Raphael turned his head to the pair and gave a small wave, "are you lot talking about me?" he gave a small toothy smile as he pointed towards himself, pulling lightly on the white golden-sewn stole that was a bit too close to his face at this angle.

Ghuugh received verbal confirmation that the salad was done and he turned and grabbed it from his chef members and set it down in front of Peroline "Here you go kid, only the freshest for such an esteemed figure in my presence." he said and took out some desbola for himself, the glowy green liquid enough to send a geiger counter through the roof. "need anything else dear?"

A ring of the door's chime rang out, and a pale-skinned woman hurried in and took a seat by Péroline, taking a quick breath as she sat down by the Podkra Wraith. "Sorry about the wait, Ms. Thibault!" Lesya Byckhova began with a quiet huff. "I needed to get some miles in for the day, and I thought I might as well get them in before lunch!" she explained, her expression much brighter than the others pontificating in the restaurant. Looking up to the S.A.R.D's puppet and the angelic being next to them, and then back to Péroline and the glowing green drink she was being offered. "... Did I catch up to you all at a bad time?" she asked.

It turned to face the woman with its blank expression, looking her top to bottom but making no comment in the process.

Raphael turned and exulted, "not a bad time at all. I assume you two are acquainted?" he asked as he looked back to Peroline.

Ghuugh looked to the robot and Raphael "No offense, but you guys done eating, we need to make room for other people in the restaurant. It is quite uh, it is quite full if you have not noticed, mostly with hot air" he said a bit annoyed and took the cap off of his desbola before sucking half of it down really quick, mostly to get rid of his forming headache.

She nodded along as she spoke, a gentle smile resting on her face as her gazed moved between the SARD and Raphael, "Ah-- I see! A race of warriors raised when they were needed most, it very much reminds me of the tribulations my country's ancestors faced; annihilation diverted by sheer will. It's very much a pleasure to meet you Raphael." She glanced over at Ghuugh, and then at Lesya, "oh that will be perfect, thank you-- And the wonderful Lesya, I'm glad you could make it! No, no, everything is very much all well and good, come and sit!"

Raphael turned back to Ghuugh, "I asked a question about the food and you have yet to take my order on it," he stated, confused by Ghuugh's statement.

Ghuugh took a long look to Raphael "Well, the difference between the Blood Jelly Bud, and the Pulled *Meat* Blood Jelly, is one has meat in it and one does not, both are made with gelatine and a spoon of blood" he breathed "So, if you wish to purchase either or, that will be fine"

Raphael closed the menu and slid it onto the table before him, "very well. I'll take the Pulled Meat Blood Jelly if you please."

"... I see," Lesya nodded along with still superb optimism about the situation, taking her seat next to the wraith and attempting to take a glance at the menu. After a moment and making her decision silently, she'd turn back to Péroline. "Why, of *course* I would come to stay alongside you, Miss Thibault!" she mused. "Elantia is such a big place, with so many different people here for the time being that, why... I think I'd be lost if I didn't have someone with a bit of experience with the peoples here."

"Of course! Though I hope you don't mind trusting someone who, admittedly, is just as new to Elantia as the other person." She chuckled and waved a finger over to the item on the menu, "I jest though! Anyways, if I were to make a personal recommendation to you it'd be the blood jelly, I hear it's *actual* fresh blood."

Raphael quickly interjected, "what I want to know is who, or whats blood" he said as he gave a look of contemplation to Ghuugh.

"Fresh and straight from a good source" he said while writing down blood jelly for both Raphael and Lesya. He sighed and sent the paper back with a ding of a bell to allow the staff to familiarize themselves with the food items "We pride ourselves on having real good ingredients. Best around, and much, much better than Gladreburger can ever offer"

"And" he turned to Raphael "If you are suggesting that I would gather its source from any sort of sapient being, then you can kindly leave. I already know people think Agatrops are just bloodthirsty savages, so get the thought out of your head"

"... *Fresh* blood? Real fresh blood?" Lesya asked with some surprise. "I think, if that's the case then, I'm settled on that as well," she turned to face Ghuugh with a chipper smile.

Raphael thought on this for a moment, mouth in hand once more, before he clicked his gloved fingers, "I've heard of them. Are they not owned by that multi corporate company? Also, I couldn't care less if it's sapient blood or not, I mean, there are donors for everything," he quipped.

The machine spoke again, this time to Raphael, "I believe they are. They range from consumer to industrial goods if I'm correct but beyond that my knowledge on them is vague. They appear to be quite the powerhouse in the economic world," it uncrossed its legs.

Ghuugh mumbled something under his breath most likely directed at how many people are here. He turned and grabbed the two big slices of blood jelly from the counter, and set the meat-free one next to Lesya with a fork and handed the meat one to Raphael with a fork. On top was a strange red syrup glazing the top of both slices. "Hope you both enjoy" he said and sat back in his chair, taking out a large big fat fucking cigar from under his desk.

"I'd never want to work for GladreCorp," Lesya said to herself with a slight shudder at the thought as she took the fork and plunged it into the side of her red gelatin. "I've heard they don't have the greatest benefits. That, and they're those stinking Ecumene people," she added.

Raphael studied the dish in amazement, "blood is often used in many cultural dishes, but this is something in itself," he poked at the surface of it with his fork, "what's the cultural origin of this here work? Or is this something you conjured up in your own time?" he asked with sincerity to Ghuugh.

The machine responded to Lesya with a flick of its hair, "is that so? No less expected from such an organisation. I've heard of the malice that people hold against said economic entity, no doubt its a nightmare for anyone working the in the lower parts of the organisation structure."

She'd give a brief shake of her head as she prodded a leaf with her fork, "It is far worse than that; their workers are practically slaves, from what I've heard. Dreadful business, absolutely dreadful."

It turned back to Peroline, "what's the minimum wage, if they even have as such?"

Taking a bite out of her jelly and slipping into her mouth with a quiet satisfied hum, Lesya would let her eyes widen at Péroline's explanation. "Really? I thought the Ecumene were liberals."

Raphael began taking his own bites at the jelly, getting bits of meat and chewing them keenly, delighted at what he had been served.

"That is what they want you to believe; they are liberal in the same way a rabid dog is, it looks nice from afar, but if you were to get close you will see the terror it has." She'd take a bite out of a leaf, "their citizens can be who they want, but the government will know everything of the person they mold themselves into." "I don't know of their minimum wage though, all I know is that the working conditions are poor."

"I see you've had negative experiences with the Ecumene. Personally they haven't appeared too bad, at least in their treatment of myself, but they are quite the authoritative regime," the S.A.R.D stated simply.

"They seem more like popularists to me, their society is all garnish no meat" he said and lit his cigar in his mouth "Aint got much use for them myself, but my government wants to ass kiss them to gain access to the KFTP"

Turning back to her plate upon learning the innate lie of the Phero Ecumene's freedoms, Ms. Byckhova saw fit to take another bite of her jelly. "Mm-*mm!*" she hummed. "This stuff is pretty good," she pointed to the remaining jelly with her fork as she looked to the Agatrops. "What sort of blood did you use for this? I might have a go at trying to make some of this when we get back home."

Raphael repeated his earlier question, "Is this a cultural dish or is this something you conjured up yourself?"

"It is a family dish, I just improved it" he said and started to rummage around through the drawers of his desk "cant seem to find the recipe, I remember using either Flatdog, or myrkrat. But its a simple process and the blood doesn't really matter, its all in the spices. Bit of sugar can actually help improve the overall taste seeings as blood can have a bit of a metallic taste to it" he said and took a big fucking puff off his cigar.

"I can't say I've had negative interactions with their sort, but I do reserve my own opinions of their policies." She'd sigh before downing another leaf, "anyways though, I think perhaps we should sway away from a dreary thing such as politics; have any plans for during your stay here? I think you could perhaps give your hand at the arena, hm?" Smiling, she'd raise her eyebrows up slightly in a cheeky way as she glanced over at Lesya.

"Depends actually," he pointed out, "if you cook blood it tends to lose most of metallic taste and it becomes something more in itself, though I don't know how I'd describe it, but it goes good when mixed with other cuisine."

"... Well, I'll try to keep the taste metallic as best I can," Lesya commented, taking a small peck of her jelly as she glanced between Péroline and Raphael with a quick stare and a chewing mouth.

"So are you all here just for fighting or... because I have a whole Seltedom dedicated to selling things, while Raphael is here to have a good time, understand the culture and fight. As for you Lesya?" it inquired.

"And I hadn't figured, but I might put my hat in there, too," Lesya said back to Péroline as soon as she had finished chewing. "Good to try and get some practice with the guns, huh?"

"Do not solicit in my shop" he scolded the robot "Its not appreciated here, and I already had to deal with something similar before"

Looking back to the S.A.R.D, she'd give him a somewhat blank stare and a blink. "... I'm on vacation," she'd say, her smile recovering only slightly from the loss.

"I was merely stating my occupation here as of current. No need to get rowdy," it stated with a stern face.

She nodded, "Indeed! I myself might give it an honest try, too, it's been a while since I've had a chance with my fencing." She peered over at SARD, "but of course I'm here for more than the arena, I--" Her smile dropped slightly at the stern response, before recovering as she continued, "--I'll also be attending Her Majesty Queen Tainatra's wonderous ball at the end of the month!"

"I am not getting rowdy, you are speaking of your shop in mine. So I am telling you again to refrain from speaking of such" he tried to say again, this time less polite and more angry "You may continue talking about other things, but do not bring up your business here again"

Giving Péroline a gasp at her revelation, Lesya would almost fall out of her chair in surprise. "You're going to the Queen's Ball? Oh, by Rhya, I envy you, Miss Thibault!" she declared playfully, prodding her remaining jelly. "Whenever you go, if the Vigilians allow it, try and bring something back for me. I never worked too close with Aoshanti royalty!"

The S.A.R.D gave a smile to this, "I myself should be turning up too! It'll hopefully be a ball to remember," it looked to Raphael, "and I may consider bringing a number two."

Raphael gave a slight node and smirked to this, "wonder who that could be."

"Oh, yes!" She'd continue, an excited skip in her voice, "there has to be something I could get for you, perhaps a wine glass, or a memento they hand out! There has to-- Ah, no, no, no, I have a better idea! You could come with me perhaps!"

Lesya's eyes widened with great surprise. "*Me? Going to the **Queen's ball?!***" she asked with immense surprise at the opportunity presented to her. "Miss Thibault, I... I don't know what to say," she continued, looking teary around the eyes before leaning in for a hug, but stopping herself- she quickly remembered the effect wraiths had on physical contact. Pulling away, she'd give an awkward, almost-teary smile. "Thank you."

"It is not a problem, Ms. Byckhova! The ball will only be even more enjoyable with someone of your caliber in attendance, and I'd be happy to make it a reality!" She glanced back at Raphael and SARD, "I'm certain you two will be wonderful as well, I can't wait to see you there!"

The S.A.R.D took the hard black notepad that it had left on the table back into its grasp, "do you plan on anyone tagging along? If you so wish me and Raphael could party-up with you two at the ball, or on the way there, however you so wish. If you want, of course."

Her stature stiffened up slightly in surprise, "ah!" "I would love if that were possible; but alas we're already a large group as it is, the majority of Her Excellency's government shall be a part of it! Buuuuut... If you wish we could meet during the course of the ball perhaps!"

It gave a toothed smile once more as it stroked back its hair, "very well then!" it gave a singular clap, "I'll hope to be making your acquaintance once more at the ball," it looked to Raphael who had almost finished his pudding, "we ought to be getting back to our place before nightfall. Try to finish that soon if you please, Raphael."

Raphael began digging at the jelly at a slightly faster pace. He was to be finished soon.

"You're going to pay for that, right?" the Krizovian asked with a curious purse of her lips to the S.A.R.D.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" it asked in a perplexed manner.

"You just seemed in quite a hurry for some reason," Lesya supposed. "Not much to run off to, I'd say. The day is young, and there's still plenty of time."

"Well, as I can't mention my occupation again, let's just say that my working hours are only at late. I presume staying a bit longer couldn't hurt in retrospect," it said thoughtfully.

"Here is all of your guys' checks" he said as he started handing out the bills For Raphael:

"I'll be paying for Raphael," the S.A.R.D interjected.

Raphael gave a laugh to this, "there's no need for such generosity. I can pay my own way."

"Yes, the check!" With a nod she'd open up her black clamshell purse and take out a cubit drive, it had a solid black glossy case with white golden accents along the edges; the colors of Krizovia it had, even down to the LCD display, which had white characters. She would slide it over to Ghu'uugh, expecting it returned, "here you are, Mr. Bolodrax! Again, you've been lovely!"

"Nonsense, consider it an act of common courtesy. If you had a job working for 10,000 cubits per hour, which you don't, but just as a hypothetical, you would have spent an hour of your life working for a Blood Jelly. I myself have and will outlive you. Allow me," it said with a wave of its hand.
The S.A.R.D's wave was to Ghuugh, "I'll be paying" it stated as it took out a bland cubit drive, devoid of any form of aesthetic taste from a front pocket on its tailcoat.

Humming at the price of the jelly meal, Lesya slipped her hand into her pants pocket. The drive she would pull out was far less fancy than those of her contemporary, appearing more like an undecorated drive without a case and just the storage. "Here you are, sir!" she would nod up to the Agatrops from her seat, a grateful smile on her face for the meal and advice he had provided her.

"Always nice to have a krizovian in my shop, you and Lesya both enjoy the rest of your day. And I will love to see you at the ball" he said and took the robots cubit drive and then Lesyas and slotted it into his register, once the transaction went through he gave it back. "Enjoy the rest of your days"

"You as well, until then!" She'd cheerfully chime this before hopping out of her seat, dropping the drive back in her purse and snapping it closed, "the day is still young too, how about we tour the city together Ms. Byckhova?"

The S.A.R.D stood and approached Ghuugh before lowering itself, taking his hand and kissing it, "it's been a pleasure," it said with its typical grin, "we'll see each other soon. Until then," it turned and made way for the door, its tailcoat swaying as it left.

Raphael ran after the machine, but at the door he turned and waved at the rest of them, "thank you for your courtesy. I'll see you all soon! Good luck to you Peroline and and Lesya, we'll undoubtedly cross paths in the near future," its wings reformed into a cape that trailed behind it as it left the premises.

She gave a wave back, "Yes, until then~!"

Ghuugh gave a look at his hand and poured some alcohol on it to sanitize it before putting the cap back on his beer and putting it away. In a moment he took out and heaved a large bottle of extra strong moonshine onto the counter "Im gonna need this I think"

The female figure of the S.A.R.D popped its head around the edge of the door, "don't threat. My mouth's cleaner than your entire counter," it left once again.

### Marbharoui, Iris and Ka-Rell and Pheap, Perenisha, Eleq and Shlyke, Toggontomor, Davide and Akim and Noi, Dalka and Dobromil, Rivlesti and Dara Sor, Ghuugh and Tevvi

Knock knock knock.

The Aratacian boy poked his head into the front door.

"Hi Ghuugh!" Tevvi said with a smile. "Is now a good time?"

Ghuugh smiled "Always a good time kid, have a seat and Ill grab you a quick bite" he waved him in and sat a menu out on the counter and pointed to the stool "Nice seat right here, so you can look over what you wish to have"

Tevvi bounded into the seat with his typical energy. He opened the menu and scanned the drinks to start. Tea, cola, beer...

"...Could I have a hot chocolate, please?"

"Um. With cream. And sprinkles."

The large Agatropian smiled and wrote down the order as he spoke it out "How has your week been so far kid, sorry you had to deal with all of that nonsense a few days ago. Nasty stuff that was" he said and then handed the order back with a ding, followed by two large taloned hands reaching out for it and snatching it into the kitchen.

"Didn't get in any trouble for tryna sneak in did'cha?"

Tevvi looked away sheepishly. "Oh, you saw that."

"Sorry."

"But, umm, besides? I've had an okay week!"

"I mean, I'm thousands of light years away from home, my family probably thinks I'm dead, and I don't know anybody here, but things have been going pretty well for me!"

"This is the adventure of a \*lifetime,\* Ghuugh, honest. I'm not even sure I \*wanna\* leave."

He kind of chuckled a bit at the boys excitement "Its a nice place to explore sure, but its ah not always the nicest to people you see" he shrugged

He listened to the boiling of milk and smelt the melting sweet chocolate "Well think of it like this, Aratacia is a monarchy but it is one with a decent amount of freedom. Vigila is nice, it has all of its culture and architecture, but in freedom it is sorely lacking if you are not an aristocrat" he continued, sort of trying to say it in more of a old grandfatherly voice.

"Imposing order and other laws works good for those who are savages, but good people sometimes get hurt through too much order, y'understand? Don't get me wrong, Vigila made me who I am. I see good in everyone, or atleast I try, sorta like you kid. But I have seen similar strict societies such as this decimate the Agatropian image, it is a sad thing" he took out a deep rich brown drink for himself and poured it in a small shot glass.

"Im ramblin aint I? well, I am glad you are enjoying the adventure, never enough sweet moments in life. So, you enjoy and savor every last one of them y'here?" he heard a ding behind him and smiled. He turned and grabbed the hot beverage and carefully set it in front of Tevvi "Here ya go son, enjoy it while its hot"

Tevvi listened intently. The old man was right-- this place was... really \*orderly.\* Too orderly, really, it was stifling. He felt like he couldn't quite be himself, but, then, its hard to blend in when you stick out like a sore thumb. It was a tough conundrum. Maybe home wasn't so bad after all.

"Thank you, sir!"

He sipped on the hot chocolate, satisfied.

The door chime jingled, and in walked the arena's former champion, a Mesui with red painted wings. His non-arena attire, more dressed as a commoner, did not show Toggontomor's stature, but the size of the winged humanoid was still more than enough to provide some gravitas as he entered with a sigh.

"Ah... I've been meaning to come here on more light circumstances," he hummed out in a low gravel to Ghuugh, taking his seat at the counter. He fluttered his wings, tucking them close behind himself as he looked over the menu with a squint.

Ghuugh watched as Toggontomor came into the restaurant and raised his hands up "Ahh! How'ya doin my boy, see you are in a much better frame of mind now. Glad to see it" he smiled and coughed a tiny but, not as bad as he was before. "It is good to see you son, the champion of Vigila stepping into my abode for a bite" he beamed and shifted his hands to a seat near the counter "come! come, sit sit."

"I am no champion," Toggontomor stated plainly, his eyes almost flaring up in their amber color with his tone before he turned his attention back to the menu before him. "... Not a champion that matters on Vigila, anyhow."

Almost as if she had been carefully keeping track of Tevvi, Noi gracefully walked in, looking as if she came from heaven itself and sat next to Tevvi. "Good afternoon, Tevvi. How are you?"

"Still a champion in my eyes, and to the Vortkan Clan" he shrugged in response to Toggontomors tone and took that shot he had out and gave a little chargrain from the strength. He took note of Noi and nodded

Tevvi stared at Toggontomor's gigantic form. Wide-eyed.

He blinked as he heard Noi's familiar voice.

"Huh--? Oh, I'm doing swell!" He replied.

A pair of figures - one Drodo and one Eovinjai - also entered the Snack Shack at around this time.

"...it's just been a while since I had some \*proper\* dark chocolate," Iris was saying to the \*kanvari\* beside her. She was in her typical civilian attire: a black vest, short skirt, and tall boots, with a Muaran-style finger chain bracelet. She also wore a black leather book satchel, and a laser pointer clipped to her belt.

"Excuse me, do you allow pets in here?" she would say once Ghuugh seemed to be available.

The Eovinjai, for his part, wore a dark blue cloud-patterned robe with the emblem of his order emblazoned on the back.

"Usually no" he looked to Iris but shruged "... But, I suppose I can make an exception" he nodded "Take your seats at one of the available tables, or the stools up near me"

Turning his attention downwards back to his menu, the hawk-like eyes caught note of the young drodo staring up at him.

"... Hm?" he'd hum quietly as he'd turn his attention down to the boy, staring him right back.

"That's wonderful, I'm glad you are enjoying yourself. I'm very sorry for earliers happenings" She said with to the boy. "Do you have any wine you'd recommend, Ghuugh?"

"Thanks, I'll make sure he behaves" she replied, unclipping the laser pointer and subtly directing it outside while ka-Rell took a seat. She clicked it three times.

After a moment, a white and blue creature settled on her outstretched arm, and crawled onto her shoulders. She then joined ka-Rell at the table.

Tevvi looked at the newcomers. An alien-- an Eovinjai, he thought?-- and--

Another Drodo civilian, like me!\*

...

...Wow. She's cute. How'd she get her fur that colour...?

His hormone-fuelled thought process was cut short by the \*gigantic Mesui warrior staring down at him.

"...Hi." He murmured.

*Pleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillme--*

There was a moment of silence as Toggontomor looked down at the Drodo, visually scrutinizing the boy before easing up his posture.

"... Hi," the ex-champion replied back, seeming to mouth out the word as if it were completely alien to say it that way. He'd give a quick glance over to Iris and the others coming in, but turned back to the counter with a quiet sigh.

"... A popular place, I see," he mused. To make sure that Tevvi knew he was still focused on him, his next words seemed directed towards him "... Is this your first time here?"

Silently, tight-lipped, Tevvi nodded back.

Ghuugh looked down his own menu for a moment, scanning for a good wine to give a Kurlak. He knew most of them seemed to be lightweights, "hmm, Aratacian Telipaise Valley Wine.. You Kurlak aren't known for holding your liquor, no offense" he said, reminiscent of Mennyei.

"So, Im gonna ask yall, to tell me your orders one at a time please. These old ear holes aint so great at multiple young'ns talking at once" he said to the crowd.

"... Mine as well," Toggontomor nodded back, trying to examine the menu just as well as he had Tevvi.

Tevvi recognised the champion, but his name escaped him. He had spent much of his time watching the bouts; live, on the television, on a livestream, wherever he could. The boy wondered what it'd be like not simply to watch, but to partake...

Later.

"Wh-- What is your name, sir?" He asked.

"That sounds very nice, I'll have a glass. I will say though, I assume you're talking about a certain, very short Kurlak? It is true that Kurlak woman are not as good at holding their drinks, though, the men are very good. Though I don't think there are any men other then Akim on planet right now and he isn't exactly the best representation of one" She giggled

Toggontomor glanced back down to Tevvi with a curious look.

"My name is Toggontomor," introduced he with a nod. "Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering!" He said, as though defending himself from an accusation.

"You know. Just. Wondering, yeah."

He sipped on his now-lukewarm chocolate.

"Ah yes, Akim, Lerin is very fond of him. Knowing that Drelnar, its for less than saint-like reasons" he smirked to Noi before taking out a big wine bottle and taking a clean wine glass and setting it on the table. He poured the red liquid in the glass and handed it to Noi. "Here you go lady"

"... There's no need to worry," Toggontomor assured. "Outside the arena, as one may say... the bark is bigger than the bite," he tried to explain without over-complicating things, slightly turning himself to better face the Aratacian.

Iris said something in Aratacei, somewhat directed at the younger Drodo, then gave a slight giggle.

"Ha, yes, he is very ....feminine, you could say. Thank you for the wine." She laughed as she took a sip of her wine
She smiles at Iris's comment to Tevvi

Tevvi's eyebrows raised: first from hearing his native language, then from the realisation that the pretty Drodo chick across the restaurant was talking to \*him,\* an after-school club dweeblet, and then \*finally\* from what she actually said.

He chuckled, and replied back a single word in his sing-songy native language.

Ghuugh looked to Toggontomor "So, what is it you would like to have Toggontomor?" he asked in a tired yet kind voice "we got a lot to chose from here, and im inclined to say a strong guy like you could go for a nice hearty meal"

"Well..." Iris started her response in Lexicon, and continued it in Aratacei.

The sound of Aratacei spoken made Toggontomor huff out a quiet humor to himself at whatever conversation the Drodo were holding.

"One cup of iced tea," replied the Phoenix to Ghuugh, looking up to the Agatrops as he made his order. "And a Rich Fruit Cake."

As soon as his order had been made, Toggontomor turned his conversation back to Tevvi. "So, what brings you to Vigila? You seem somewhat... young to have come with the Prince's fleet."

Tevvi smiled and nodded. He replied in Aratacian.

Almost bouncing in while still managing to stay particularly graceful, Akim came up babbling something in his own language while coming up to Noi. He realized she was just enjoying some wine and seemed rather annoyed at her.

"I've been pretty easy to find, stop getting all upset with me. Sit, you need to find time for yourself you know." She sighed and quickly turned to Ghuugh "Can I request a tea please? He needs to relax a bit. Too many ceremonies lately"

Ghuugh nodded and wrote it down as well as Toggontomors order. "Any one else wish to get to their order?" he asked a bit loudly cuz so many people were talking?" he sent back the current note to his staff, who were grumbling rather loudly in the kitchen, the sound of what could be a tea kettle being placed on a stove could be heard.

"The fruit cake and tea for both of you will be done shortly" he looked to Akim and Toggontomor.

"Thank you, it's very much appreciated" She said

The large Agatropian looked to the female Drodo and her companion "what will you be having miss?"

"I'll be getting two orders of the Kusyari dark chocolate, and a breakfast waffle. And a baxa imaging to drink."

"Make that two of the baxa imaging. And to eat, I'll have the steamed mussels."

Ghuugh nodded and wrote down the orders and sent it back with the other order, he yelled something to them in Agatropian, knowing the rest could not understand the deep and gruff language. "Halhetch! Halhetch!, Vech das Lea! Ah Chalcal!" he coughed from yelling too much but he knew that his staff got the gist of what he was saying.

Soon enough coming out of the kitchen was a waiter with trays in both hands surprisingly well balanced. The waiter came up to ka-Rell and Iris and set down two nice hot teas in front of them, he took a large dark chocolate bar and set it down with the tea and then set down a big plate of steamed mussels in front of ka-Rell. Ghuugh watching this set out a pair of napkins for the Eovinjai, seeing that be done the waiter continued. The waiter set down a nice warm fruit cake with a slice already cut for the Mesui, on the inside was moist rich puffy breading, the waiter also set down the iced tea for Toggontomor and gave a bow before headed back into the kitchen to wash his hands.

"Enjoy yall, I sure enjoy it when you like my food"

Despite the pout on his face, he clearly enjoyed the tea as he tried to hide a little happy wing flutter.

Davide strolled on into the snack shack with a proud look on his face, it was very reminiscent of his older brother Lerins after he either successfully flirted with everyone in the damn room or he won a lottery slot. He came sitting up next to Akim and put two silverish coins in front of Ghuugh with a knowing look and a kind smile "Could you please get me a nice bottle of wine my friend?" he threw in one extra coin to the Agatropian and winked.

Ghuugh looked at the coins for a minute, he saw the familiar symbol on the coins which made him pause and take a look at the man in the suit. He hummed for a minute before taking the coins and putting them in the drawer and handed the man a smaller bottle of wine and nodded. "Here you go, hope you enjoy it. And say hello to your brother for me" he brought out a few glasses of it and put it in front of the Mantalli and went back to reading a newspaper.

Iris took one of the chocolate bars and held it up to her shoulder, where the strange creature was perched. It took it in a pair of its buglike limbs and began eating it in small bites.

"It will never cease to amaze me that he can digest chocolate," ka-Rell noted as he took to his mussels.

"You look familiar" He said as he looked over at Davide.

He looked to Akim with a smile "Afraid we haven't really met before sir, Ive heard of you though. My brother mostly, hed like to meet you some day" he said and took his bottle of wine and popped the cork with a nice sound before slowly pouring the red sweet liquid into his glass. He sat the bottle down and took a sip of the wine, a delighted sigh escaping his nose before he sat back against the counter side of the stool and held the wine in his hand. "That sure is some good wine, reminds me how delightful a calm smooth fruit wine is, almost as beautiful as the stars above"

"Hmm, were you the one flirting with Mennyei that one night? " He asked as he took a long sip of his tea. "I'm also rather surprised you didn't mistake me for a woman"

”thats between me and Mennyei” he said and took another sip. “Well, cant really mistake you for a woman when my brother talks all about you, specifically him using he pronouns” he shrugged.

“Plus, im not one to judge on appearances, its 23 NAC”

"What do you mean you and Mennyei, this was at least a few weeks ago now I think"

"Oh you must mean my brother! Yeah, he flirted with everyone" he said and saw Toggontomors glaring "Don't put your mind there, I know what you are thinking. I am only saying Lerin would wish to meet him" he frowned and finished his glass of wine. "It is nice to meet you though Akim"

"Ah, that makes more sense. I'm not surprised though, she is the cutest little thing." He said with a smile. "Unfortunately she said she would be leaving the UGPS. Though I'd always take her back as a guard if she needed work or if something happened she would just need to return. Kurlak don't always do very well when they go solo, so I want to make sure she has something to return to if she needs help"

Walking in through the door, Perenísha would give a warm smile to Ghuugh as she approached the counter and took a seat, resting a gloved hand on top.

"Gh'uugh! I feel it's about high time I finally visited your fine establishment, how have the days been treating you?"

After winning against Ardius and Aristo, Rivlesti felt in need of a good drink. Walking into Ghuugh’s snack shack somewhat triumphantly in his military uniform, doing so debatably in an arrogant manner. However, his spirits were high and it seemed to show in his demeanor as he would look toward Ghuugh, “Hello, Ghuugh, or atleast I’d assume you’re Ghuugh?” adding quickly he’d quip, “Don’t worry, I come alone, just want a little drink. I’ll be checking the list.” He’d then find a place to seat himself as he’d open a menu.

He chuckled "You do have a point on that" he smiled "I doubt she would be going solo though, shes got friends who would probably help her out yknow. Shes a nice person, and those are hard to come by so she will be fine" he shrugged

Ghuugh saw Perenisha walk through the door, he had a bit of a tired if not slightly wired look to him. He put his head down on the counter a bit with his arms tucked under it, and sighed "Oh.. its going great, yknow... look at all the business I have." he said letting his hands gesture to all 8 other people.

"I feel fantastic, just gave up smoking.. cold turkey" he said with a bit of gritted teeth. "Its nice to have you here though, take a seat wherever and open up a menu"

"Hmm..."

She gave a cursory glance around at the patrons, one of which being the former Arena Champion Toggontomor which, naturally, caused her brows to momentarily raise. She looked back at Gh'uugh, "well, at the very least more patrons means more money, or at least that's what I say. You even have the great Toggontomor, and \*that\* is something."

"I wish you the best of luck with your ailment though, truly~! It's a terrible thing, now though..."

She gave a cursory readover of the menu, "I think I will have a strawberry milkshake and some fries, along with some of the flatdog nuggets."

"She is kind and she is very smart and I'm sure she has friends but I still can't help but worry for her a little. She's so small for a Kurlak and well, not many know this but a good amount of our bones are semi hollow and I'm worried something will happen and she'll get pinned down and that it will be the end for her. Even if she isn't that much younger then me she still feels sort of like my kid."

Putting down his menu, Rivlesti would say, “I’d like some hard liquor.”

"So would I..." he sighed as he mumbled to himself. He looked at Rivlesti "what type, we have a few different ones"

”Vortkan Whiskey.” Rivlesti would wear a grin and say, “You know what? To everyone here, I’d be fine with buying a drink for everyone here, nothing too costly though!”

"If you're counting Pheap, we'll have 3 of the spiked milkshakes over here," Iris said, a sly smirk on her face as she took a bite from her own chocolate bar.

Ghuugh nodded but gave the amphibian a shake "No no, let me do the honors" he said, actually smirking for once. He stood up and cleared his throat loudly "Everyone! Listen up! For the rest of this night, all drinks are free! All you gotta do is drink em!" he coughed and continued "my boy marbharoui here will be taking care of all your thirsts!" he said and looked down to Perenisha "I will have your order ready in a sec dear" he said and whistled for Marbharoui to take his place while he actually went back to do some cooking himself.

Rivlesti raised his eyes, “Hmm, if that’s the case, I’ll be bringing some of my soldiers if possible!” chuckling he’d then pull out a radio.

"Oh no, no, I was being sarcastic," Iris hastily clarified, her smirk dropping immediately. "I'll just take the one if that's okay."

"Wonderful!"

She gave an appreciative smile up at Ghuugh.

Marbharoui came around a bit surprised that he had been pushed out of the kitchen, but he held a spiked milkshake in his hand and gave it to Iris with a nod "Anyone who wants their drinks, come up and I will mix them for you." he said and took out a mixing glass. He saw Ghuugh hand off the plate for perenisha and he set it down in front of her "enjoy your meal"

"Thank you!"

Taking her milkshake and taking a sip of it, she'd give a turn in her seat towards Iris, gesturing towards Pheep; "by the way, is that your pet? I think he's adorable!"

Before calling over some of his soldiers to hold a drink, Rivlesti would decide against it, as it was probably not the nicest thing to bring over a squad or so of his people to come over after hearing the drinks would be free. “You know what, yeah, I’ll still be alone for this one. Vortkan Whiskey please.”

Marbharoui nodded slightly to Rivlesti and took out a large Vortkan Whiskey, it was a surprising brighter red in color and he poured it into a medium sized glass cup. He handed the drink over to Rivlesti before putting the cap back on the bottle.

"Yep," Iris responded, running a hand through Pheap's soft, slightly luminescent fur, and eliciting a pleasant coo from the creature. "He's been with me for the past ten years, almost to the day this month. Still isn't even done growing, as far as I know."

"Aw,"

She'd put a hand over her heart, or at least where one would be, for a brief moment. "He looks so soft too! What species even is he, I've never seen anything like him."

"Well...." Iris glanced sidelong at ka-Rell for a moment. "He's a kind of psionic life that hasn't really been seen since the Fall of Abzu. We call them ad astra dragons, and we're not entirely sure \*where\* they come from. I just kinda found him out on a null-sec moon, and he followed me home."

"...Huh."

She'd smile, "well he sounds rare! You're probably very lucky to have him-- Heh, mind if I toss him a fry?"

”You can try a chocolate,” Iris began breaking a piece off one of the bars. “Fried food isn’t as palatable to him.”

"Oh!"

She cupped her hands upward on her lap, "mind tossing me one? I can see how good his aim is after."

Marbharoui took out a chocolate bar for her "here you go Perenisha, its on the house. A sweet treat for a sweet lady" he gave a smile and took a glance at Kurvuin leave his workstation to go into Ghuughs part of the office. He have him a side eye before turning back to the gals "So, hows the arena been treating you, Mornwick?"

She glanced back with a smile, "aw, even better! Much appreciated!"

Starting to undo the wrapper for the bar she'd continue, "but things with the Arena have been... Satisfactory, I suppose. I'm very new to actual competitive dueling, but I'm certain soon enough I'll get a hang of it."

She'd break a piece and hold it up in the air for a moment,

"Eyes up Pheep!"

Upon hearing his name, the creatures eyes locked with the source, and then the piece of chocolate. Iris shifted her posture to allow Pheap a better position.

Her hand teased back and fourth, seeming primed to throw the chocolate before withdrawing back to it's original position a few times. Then suddenly...

"Catch!"

Flicking her hand forward in an overhand throw, the chocolate would be loosed, tumbling across the restaurant towards Pheep.

With almost uncanny precision, the small dragon caught the chocolate in his barely-visible mouth, and it quickly disappeared under his off-white face.

She covered her mouth with a gloved hand as she saw Pheap do his Feat of acrobatics, chuckling.

"Ohoho, goddess! Quite the set of eyes he has too!"

Placing a small cubit drive on the counter beside his plate, Toggontomor would rise from his seat and take his leave.

Entering right past the Phoenix's exit to the snack shack, a small group of Abrol, wearing the insignia of the Bokin Clan- a badge bearing the stylized Abrol representing the clan- entered the restaurant. Leading them was a more notably dressed Abrol, their typical slitted shades put over their large eyes as they scanned over the room with chattering mandibles.

"Hm... Is said they have good meals," Eleq mused, preening his antennae with a hand as he overlooked the scene- the sight of the ad astra dragon catching his attention for a moment longer, before focusing back to his primary follower, a lighter-shelled Abrol of shorter stature. "Shlyke!" he commanded with a more hushed tone. "Let us have meal- to be covered on finance, yes?"

"W-well," Shlyke mumbled back, a bit unsure of paying for lunch with the financial gains of the Bokin Clan's meager treasury, "I believe a few may cover it good-"

"Excellent!" the leading Abrol declared quietly, patting Shylke on the back with his upper arm before shooing off the rest of his men. "Then it will be only you and I."

"What of others?"

"They will manage," Eleq assured, leading the way to the counter where they would take their seats, quickly beginning to look over the menu. "And we will eat."

"Just make sure that creature doesn't crap in here" he looked to Iris as he started cleaning a shot glass "we had this deranged AI in here before, made the place dirty just by being in its presence. Don't know why anyone would give AI the right to be the same as organics, let alone lead a nation" he shrugged.

He looked to the weird bugs "Hello, how can I help you?"

Eleq looked up to the large Marbharoui with a clack of his mandibles. "Food," he stated plainly, "More specific, food that has a new taste. Good tastes," he supposed, looking over the menu before pointing at something. "Two of the beef stew- the Aratacian beef stew," he insisted. "And two of the Flatdog thighs. Two beers to go with it," he insisted, "Or four- two for each," he explained, gesturing between himself and Shlyke.

Marbharoui nodded as they spoke, writing down their order as he hummed. "Alright, I think I can manage that" he said and finished off the penmanship before dinging the bell and giving the note to one of the chefs who nodded to him and got to work.

"What type of beer would you prefer?" he asked

Shlyke would open his mandibles to speak, but would be cut off by Eleq's own order. "The regular," he insisted. "It is only necessary for washing down such a meal."

A figure wearing dark purple garments would enter into the restaurant, tall and lanky, their face would be obscured by a veil and dark silvered mask; beady brown eyes visible from underneath, flanked by skin with a scorched color. This all was the trademarks of members of Brasaeat Dot's Royal Monastery, though this was betrayed by the leather belt resting around her hips, which currently had only two empty holsters.

She moved silently and went straight for the counter, sitting beside Perenísha, which she gave a nod to.

"Greetings to you."

"Oh, Daraa!"

She'd swivel in her seat towards them, "a pleasure to see you here! I trust you've found your stay here well? The fleets too-- They must be doing splendid."

Dara slid a menu over to her and scanned it,

"No; this city is loud and decadent, and your fleets speak three tongues, none of which I understand."

Davide looked at all the new faces showing up and grunted, he noticed how crowded the place was getting and looked to Akim "well, id say Mennyei has a lot to protect her. However, I would kind of say it is slightly patronizing to count her strength out because of semi-hollow bones and her stature. She is a very strong woman, one that even I wouldn't mess with when she was angry" he shuttered at the thought.

"I am sure she will be fine, she has a lot going for her that could stop a bullet" he said and rubbed his arm with a smile, before turning back to his glass of wine.

"How can you be so sure?" He asked with a hint on curiosity in his voice. "Have you met her personally? If you have she can be rather remarkable so I guess in a sense it makes up for her one weakness it seems."

"Mm." She nodded, an uncomfortable glimmer resting in her eye as for a moment, her lip curled downward.

"Well-- I think this world has its charms, it's the heart of the Aoshanti East after-all, you just have to get used to it. I think it'd do you well maybe to attend the arena, it's relaxing in its own way you know."

"Maybe." She said offhandedly, before glancing up at Marb.

"I know what I'll be having, if you'll take my order."

Marbharoui smirked at the implications Davide was putting out and turned to Dara, also noticing how crowded the place was getting. "Ah yes, what is it you wish to have?" he asked in a slightly pained tone, as if he was getting a headache from all of the other people being noisy.

"Steamed fish with the glazing, along with a bottle of the Basco aged brandy; and a glass of course."

She glanced over,

"I didn't know you had a thing for that kind of drink Dara." She'd say, a teasing edge to her voice.

"I'm curious, I want to see what it's like." She retorted, her eye darting over to Mornwick for a moment, before resting on Marb.

"So that is what I'll have."

Marb nodded and wrote down the order a quick moment and sent it back, as he was doing so the waiter brought out the stews for Eleq and Shlyke before bowing and heading back inside. Marbharoui took out the Basco aged brandy and a glass and set it in front of Dara Sor. He took out a big bottle of the Agatropian favorite and poured it into a glass for himself, the smell was a bit putrid to those who could catch a whiff of it, and he knocked it back.

"So Dara, you prize yourself on being a warrior? think you could stomach the Agatropian drink Desbola?" he smirked and took out a shotglass for himself and her. "If you don't throw up, the meal is free"

"I was blessed in the fires of Reachtheani, and the fury that bared; I'm more then confident I could contend with your drink."

She looked up at him, "I accept your challenge."

Her eyes widened, her voice a mixture of exasperation and outrage,

"Dara--! "

"I can handle it."

Marbharoui took out a bucket from behind the counter and set it near her for precaution before grinning. He took out a liability waiver and set it in front of her with a pen tied to the clipboard it was on. "Gotta sign this friend"

Swiftly taking it, she'd quickly sign her name on the waiver, before handing it back.

"There."

”Drinking poison?" Eleq commented as he turned about, taking a gulp of his beer with a quiet huff. "Is of being a bad idea. Let’s watch. Curiosity getting the better of me."

Marbharoui took his shot as he grabbed the paper and put it against the back wall, with a grunt he sighed from the nice burning of the grain alcohol. "well, its your turn, lets hope you don't turn into a puddle on the floor" he grinned

Akim turned to look at Dara with surprise. The prospect of drinking something toxic made his wings flap in discomfort but he counldnt bring himself to look away from the spectical

"Ash maybe, but not a puddle."

Grabbing the shot glass, she'd glance down at it for a moment, before lifting her mask up ever so slightly. Tilting her head back, she'd take the shot.

Bad idea.

Smacking the glass back down on the counter, Perenísha looked on, her mouth curled in an expression of shock. Sitting still and saying nothing, Perenísha would raise a brow,

"Dara?"

Any further inquiries would be cut short as Dara promptly reached over and grabbed the bucket and bent over in her seat, nearly falling over in her bout of illness as she held it close to herself.

Perenísha recoiled as she saw this, her lips closing as she grimaced in disgust, moving back in her seat from Dara.

"...Really now."

”Okay, Dobro! Time to get us that flatdog!” Dalka exclaimed to her brother as she pushed open the door to the snack shack. “Oooh I can’t wait to see him! I bet he’s gonna be so cu-“ Dalka stopped herself as soon as she turned her head to actually look inside the establishment, her enthusiasm instantly replaced with shock.

Akim felt like he was going to be sick just watching and looked over at the last of his tea and just pushed the tea cup further back on the counter.

Marbharoui saw the Laska twinks come in and put a finger to his mouth "shhh" he mimed before giving a sympathetic smile to Dara Sor "Hey, Ill still count that meal as free, since well." he motioned to the bucket, just as he said that he turned when he heard the ding and grabbed the fish meal and set it on the counter before grabbing a plastic box and wrapping the fish up in it before setting it next to the poor woman.

"There, there."

She patted Dara on the shoulder as she remained hovering over the bucket, gripping it tightly, and completely silent. Her hand trembling, she slowly lowered it back down onto the floor, Perenísha glaring in a gleeful way down at her.

"How about... You tend to the fleet, perhaps take this day off, hm? Ruminate a little, you have a lot to learn about the Galaxy still."

She'd lean in and in a hushed voice would speak, "like not drinking fucking Desbola. Go."

"Mmgh-- Y-Yes I... Should probably do that."

Her voice was shaking, weak, as if she could descend back into illness at any moment. With a trembling hand she cleaned herself briefly with a napkin, before lowering her mask and glancing up at Marb.

"Apologies, and thank you." She'd offer to him, giving a nod and taking the plastic box, swiftly departing afterwards.

He nodded to her and took out a fresh cloth and sprayed the inside of the shotglass she used with soapy water and started cleaning it with a hum of the Marric Union Anthem. "Sorry bout your friend there Perenisha" he said while cleaning out his own shot glass. He went silent for a bit before looking to Davide and Akim "thank you for your business but ah, its a bit crowded in here so could you guys mind leavin?"

"No, no, I should be the one apologizing. Bit of a mess that whole thing became." Mornwick offered, crossing her legs and drinking her shake, a lingering disgust still resting on her face.

"Sure thing Marbharoui, and hey; Lerin says hi" he said before throwing three more of those Mantalli coins to him "heres for Akim, figure the guy got a bit startled by the brew" he said and stood up before making his way, he gave two finger guns to Akim on the way out.

"Ha! I see the human cannot handle themselves,” Eleq derided Dara's failure before turning back to his meal with a sigh. "Ah, Shlyke. This Vigila land is of being more interesting than what I was thinking."

"You know, Eleq, I heard that surviving a drink like that would make you a very notable man," Shlyke insisted.

"Oh? If that is the case…" Eleq turned to Marbharoui, smacking a hand flat against the counter. "Bring me that drink- the \*Desbola\* drink!”

"… Honestly Dalka, this is more fun than getting a Flatdog," Dobromil contested, folding his arms and watching the show unfold.

"Yes, I need to go check up on some things elsewhere so I was just about to leave anyways. Thank you for the tea, I enjoyed it and thank you Davide for the payment." He said as he turned to leave, feeling a bit odd for not needing to pay for it. He stopped in his tracks for a moment when he heard Eleq mention how "weak" Dara's failure was. "We'll see if you are weak too then if you think that woman is so weak, if you knew anything though you would know she is very much not" before walking out of the shop

"Vigila is not that much more interesting, only interesting when the Agatrops come to town" he smirked and took a gander to Eleq before his smirk turned into a wide sharp teethed grin and poured him a big shot of it before handing him another liability waiver "sign here please, or Im dumping the shot out"

"… So we shall," Eleq taunted back to the leaving angel, signing the paper in barely legible scrawl. "Now hand me the drink!"

"Not sure. Seems to be some kind of… really strong thing- an Agatrops thing, by the sounds of it," Dobromil commented with a hushed tone.

He grinned and handed the shot over to him and waved over to the bucket "you'll need this.." he grinned and tucked the waiver away and poured himself a shot before downing it right in front of Eleq as if it were nothing "your turn, princess"

Taking the shot in between his claws, Eleq tipped back his head, letting out a cocky snicker, before dumping the entirety of the glass’s contents into his open mandibles. A small gulp later, and a few seconds passed before the Abrol simply shook his head with a huff. "A bit of spice with it, I see," he commented, eyeing the Agatrops as he asked casually, setting down his shot as he did, “But what might the big deal be? Is just a drink, yes? So the human is weak."

She glanced over,

"I would really prefer if you stopped insulting my associate, thank you. It's unbecoming."

”... Can’t be that strong if that bug guy handled it just fine,” Dalka quietly commented to Dobromil with a shrug. She held up two fingers and proclaimed, “Two Desbolas please!”

”I can’t believe you are planning drink that crap..” Rivlesti would chuckle, “This will be fun to watch.”

Turning around in his seat, Eleq would glare over to the Vakhan with only a slight mumble of his mandibles. "If true, is it insult?" He would ask, before turning around in his seat, letting out a hissing snicker. “She can learn to handle drinks? I take back my words."

"W-wait, Dalka?" Dobromil realized with sudden concern. "What are you doing?”

”Don’t stop it, it’s free entertainment at work!” Rivlesti wheezed.

”What? Everyone’s doing it,” Dalka remarked with a shrug, “Besides, like I said, that bug guy handled it just fine. He said it was just spicy.”

"Yeah, but he’s a bug!" Dobromil argued. "For all you know, it could be just straight acid, and he’d drink it!”

Dalka was quiet for a moment before asking Marbharoul, “Hey, is it acid or not-acid?”

Rivlesti would chuckle, “It’s not acid, but much worse..”

He looked to Eleq “Hey, leave the woman alone, or get out. Keep yourself quiet and calm or else were gonna have a problem big man” he pointed to the insect before turning to Dalka.

“No it is not acid, but it is not pretty to drink either, you don’t seem like much of a regular drinker so. It has 95% grain alcohol, milk, uranium dust, and gunpowder in it.” He said and turned to Rivlesti

“Do not egg people on by the way, let them make their choice by themselves”

”Okay okay!” Rivlesti would then jokingly hold his hands in the air as if in surrender as he’d reseat himself.

She flashed a smile at Marb briefly,

"Thank you."

Snickering contently at Rivlesti's reseating and the general attitude of the room- which he assessed to be regular, Eleq would lean back into his own more, focusing on his meal.

"Well, we probably inhale plenty of gunpowder on the regular anyway, right?" Dalka chimed, nudging Dobromil with her elbow.

"Gunpowder is not uranium, Dalka," Dobromil corrected."This sounds like it was made to kill someone."

"Actually, this is Desbola lite, only can cause people to throw up. Pure Desbola is strictly for Agatrops" he corrected and showed a picture of the whiskey bottle sized container with a deep green ominous glow.

"See, Dobro? This is Desbola Lite," Dalka insisted before slapping her hands onto her hips and adopting a proud stance, "You're just scared I'll be able to handle it and you won't, and then I'll get to make fun of you."

Marbharoui took out two more waivers and put it infront of them and tutted "need to sign the liability waiver first, cant sue us if you get sick" he said in a serious tone, but a small smile could be heard within it.

"Paperwork, great," Dobromil sighed, quickly penning his signature before handing off the pen.

Dalka snatched the pen from Dobromil with far more eagerness than her brother, quickly scribbling down her signature on her respective waiver.

Marbharoui took out the half used bottle of Desbola Lite and poured it into a shot glass for each and one for himself. He took the shot and grunted at the burning in his throat "have at thee"

While still eating, one could tell Eleq had turned ever so slightly, glancing behind himself to see how the two would handle it. A slight flicker of his elytra would denote his bemusement.

"… Well?" Dobromil waited, gesturing for his sister to go. "Let’s see you try first, then you can laugh at me after.”

Watching the two, wearing a grin Rivlesti would say, “You know, I’d like to vomit. If you would be as nice as to let me sign the waver and drink?”

Dalka smirked at her brother before sticking her tongue out at him. "Desbola!" She cheered, snatching up her shot glass and reeling her head back as she swallowed the concoction down.

Dalka's eyes nearly popped out of her head at the burn going down her throat, clearing it as best she could as she brought the glass down with a loud, "Whew!" She shook her head a bit, clearing her throat again as she caught her breath. "... Holy... Shit, Dobro... That stuff is mean," She laughed.

Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Dobromil would huff discontently now that his turn had come. "… To Desbola then,” he’d repeat in a less enthusiastic manner, mimicking her movements and downing the drink on one go.

Almost immediately upon swallowing, Dobromil could tell it wasn’t going to sit right. Stomach grumbling and a wrenching feeling from his throat, Dobromil dry gagged with a slight gasp. Looking around for the bathroom and holding a hand over his mouth to try and hide his sensitivity, he’d use the other to gesture to his sister.

"Mm- One second," he’d stammer out with a pained tone, hurrying as quickly as he could to the restroom, flinging the door open and letting it slam behind him. Even behind closed doors, one could hear him wrenching up his guts from the drink.

Watching Dobromil run off frantically to the bathroom, Eleq would snicker to himself ever so quietly before continuing to eat his stew, letting his elytra and wings flicker out in an Abroli show of emotion- amusement.

With a snicker, Rivlesti would look towards Marb, “Waver and drink?”

While Dalka couldn't help but snicker herself, her smile ebbed away as she heard her brother vomit, even further when she heard Eleq snickering at his misfortune as well. She furrowed her eyes at the bug before looking to Marb and asking as well with a determined tone, "Another for me too. Hurry before he gets out of the bathroom."

Marbharoui nodded and slid the waiver over to Rivlesti and then poured him a drink before giving Dalka a raised eyebrow and then a shrug "you already signed so" he poured another bit into her shotglass, the thick creamy substance coating the glass obviously having a putrid smell.

With much less enthusiasm but double the determination as before, she downed the shot as quickly as she could without a second thought.

Dalka grimaced, unsure if the drink was actually going to do the tri- "Oh fuck there it is," She croaked, nearly falling to the floor as she got out of her seat and scrambled to the restroom as quickly as she could, holding her hand tightly over her mouth the whole way.

"There goes two."

She inquired at Rivlesti, "think you'll be third?"

"Want to put bets on it?" Eleq commented with the slightest of amusement to his tone, glancing off to the side watching Dalka run for the restroom before focusing on both Rivlesti and Perenísha. "I’m betting against."

She let out an exasperated sigh,

"Suppose then I'll have to bet for if you're betting against; twenty million considering what this is."

Rivlesti would sit down with his drink in hand, before drinking, he’d see the misfortune on Dalka and snickered. Turning to Perenísha, he’d reply, “Perhaps, but if I do, I plan on not staining my uniform.. Ciheersa!” he’d then chug the drink swiftly.

Upon drinking it, he was surprised by it’s strength. He was well aware it’d do so, but it still took him off guard. He’d then proceed to hurl on the floor, vomiting the drink swiftly. After righting himself, he’d realize he got some on his attire, taking a handkerchief and wiping it off of his uniform. He’d take a moment to catch his breath, “Well then.. If you wish I pay for the clean up, I can toss a drive..”

Openly laughing at the scene, Eleq would lean back in the seat. "Keep it," Eleq assured. "I am sure the 20 million bet may handle that," he eyed Perenísha and nodded towards Marbharoui. "It is always good to help out, you know?"

Marbharoui took a keen glance at what just happened and began to snicker, and then his snickering turned into full blown laughing. He laughed for what seemed like a few minutes at Rivlesti, while chuckling he nodded to Eleq.

Perenisha would deride Rivlesti, "well, not only did you ensure my loss on this bet, you also made the most \*mess\*."

"But... I'm a woman of my word." She would assure Eleq, before putting a disposable cubit drive on the counter for him to retrieve.

In a fluid movement, the drive would go from one set of claws into its opposite, held out for Marbharoui to take from him. "Ah, let it by my pleasure to remedy the situation in such a case," he assured, winking to Perenísha through his protective eye-gear.

"By the way… It is not usual, but I must apologize," he noted as he leaned in a little closer to the Vakhan. "It seems I had… underestimated, what the reaction people may have had. That, and your acquaintance's initial personality, it, eh… makes an Abrol needless with vindictiveness," he explained, what could only be described as a grin on his mandibles. "As the Bokin Clan’s representative here in this land of Vigila, I must say that I am sorry."

Quickly responding in a slightly defensive manner, Rivlesti replied to Perenísha, “Hey! I don’t see you taking a swig of that stuff, it’s pretty damn strong!” he’d chuckle to himself as he wiped parts of his uniform off with his handkerchief.

Marbharoui took the cubit drive and slotted it in but waved the apology off "Its alright, month or two ago I would have said the same thing. I burned a few peoples face off in the name of humor so, you aren't too bad" he shrugged and handed the cubit drive back to him once the transaction was completed.

"If anyone else wishes to try desbola, be my guest" he smirked

Walking out of the bathroom and dabbing at his mouth with a paper towel, Dobromil would let out a tired sigh, looking worse for wear. "Ah… why do I let you talk me into these things, Dalka…?" He began, but stopped as he realized that his sister was missing.

"… Eh?" He hummed to himself, looking around for his sister with little concern. She was an adult- she could handle her own, but he didn’t think she’d wander off without him.

”she followed you in soon after friend” he pointed to the womans bathroom. “she’s probably fine though”

She'd tap the side of her shake glass with a finger for a moment as she thought over his words, taken by surprise seemingly with the apology, before looking over and waving a hand in a gentle dismissiveness.

"No, no, it's very much alright; I think we all got caught up in the moment there, so it's understandable some things were said... Or done, that shouldn't have been. She's new to this galaxy anyways, my associate, so she has a very particular way of doing things."

She'd offer a slight smile, "but I accept your apology. It's water under the bridge."

"I suppose your associate is more like us than we thought," Eleq huffed, "But where are the manners I need to show?" He shook his head before offering one of his lower hands for Perenísha to shake.

"I am Eleq Bokin. Son of Patriarch Maraq," he met with a slight nod before gesturing with his opposite side's arms to the other Abrol with him, "And this is Shlyke. Financier."

Caught off-guard by the sudden introduction and his name being spoken, Shlyke jumped slightly as he turned to the direction of Eleq, before noticing what was going on. Looking Perenísha over, the smaller Abrol would give a nod and a slight wave to her, accompanied by a quiet two clicks of his mandibles- a formal Abroli greeting.

Dalka stumbled out of the bathroom, looking in a terrible state compared to her brother given she had drank \*two\* of the vile Desbolas. “Hey... Dobro,” She weakly mumbled with a small laugh., “I, uh... I guess it took longer for me to throw mine up, huh?” She used one hand to lean against the wall while clutching her stomach with the other, letting out a quiet groan as she did her best to smile up at her brother.

"You two wanna meet your new pet? Im sure it will cheer you up" he gave a sympathetic smile to them, feeling a bit bad.

Still a little pale from his own hurling, Dobromil have her a quiet laugh of his own. "Sure looks like it," he mused, offering a hand to help her out. "C'mon, Dalka. Let’s get our minds off of gross drinks and get back to focusing on why we came here in the first place."

”W-Wait I, uh...” She muttered, taking Dobromil’s hand as she cleared her throat, “I wanna just sit down for a second.... Drink some water or something first. I don’t wanna be all sick when we meet him.”

"You know what? That’s fair," Dobromil chuckled, leading the two of them to a nearby booth to sit down. “Marb, if you could?" He asked of the Agatrops as he helped his sister into her seat.

He nodded and went and grabbed a cold bottled water from the mini-fridge where he keeps his lunch and threw it to Dobromil "Here you guys go, and next time, perhaps you shouldn't try drinks made for Agatrops"

”Y-Yeah... Maybe... Guess we both suck, huh?” Dalka remarked to her brother with a weak chuckle.

"I dunno," Dobromil shrugged, taking a swig of the water before offering it to Dalka. "We suck less than a Drodo in short-shorts and an Aoshanti with a big shield."

"Hey, if you guys need anything else I am here to help" he said and drank the rest of the Desbola he was using for shots, and with an exhale from knocking it back he dropped it into the recycling bin.
"And when you are ready, head on back to the butchers shop"

”Thanks,” Dalka said with a smile to Marb before giving her brother another, “thanks,” as she gingerly took the water from him. “Pure right about that,” She huffed before sipping from the water bottle.

She'd promptly take his hand and give it a gentle shake, giving a welcoming nod to Shlyke as well.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Eleq. I'm Perenísha Ellári-Mornwick, though you may just call me Perenísha; I'm well aware how long Muaran names can come off as."

She'd stifle a chuckle and bring her hand back, "I run one of the businesses here though on the Campus Priphonus, Perenísha's Automated Solutions. As you might guess, our specializations are drones."

"Drones of a wonderful variety, if I might add."

"Ah, drones?" Eleq hummed in curiosity. "Those are not well-known in our people. Many stigmas, little room for them in place of Abrol workers," he waved off his explanation. "If we may have the time, we may see just how wonderful your variety may be, Miss Ellári-Mornwick.”

"I'd be glad to have you there."

She'd smirk, "certain it'll please you."

Marbharoui took the cubit drive and slotted it into the machine, it dinged a few times before he gave the drive back and the machine rang it up.
**75,200 Cubits**

"Thanks for the meal," she said, taking the drive back. Ka-Rell nodded in kind.

”Your welcome! And have a good rest of your day. And hey, tell Echo I said hello” he smiled.

"Will do. I sure hope you've been keeping your word." She winked knowingly at the Agatrop.

Taking out a small drive of his own, Eleq would slide it down onto the table past both his and Shlyke's plates, causing the latter to eye his superior intently.

"This will be enough," assured the Bokin commander, nodding to the Agatrop before hopping down from his seat. "Shlyke! We are going."

"Oh! Yes, Eleq!" Shlyke yelped, shambling down from his raised seat to hurriedly follow his boss out of the snack shack. "Ah- of many thanks to you all!" He declared in a kinder tone, waving back to anyone still in the snack shack before ducking out the door after Eleq.

"Farewell!"

She'd give them a cordial wave before pushing forward her own cubit drive on the counter, her shake now all but gone. "I should be heading out as well, thank you for the service though."

He smiled lightly and pushed the cubit drive back to her “Its alright Perenisha, you can keep the drive. Use it to get Dara something nice. To get her mind off the sickness she will probably feel tomorrow..” he said and scratched the back of his head.

“Its getting late outside as you see, most of our staff is ready to leave so, this ones on the house”