Uldartre Academy (year 2, IC, semi-open)

[Crumb-Cashew]

Cottura took the GG-Hawk in her hand. It felt good; rather heavy, and not well-worn like her father's old pistol, but a good gun. "Only 350 Dral? Sounds like a good deal to me, I'll buy it."

[The greater Vakolicci Haven]

Their was an advantage to being 8 ft 4 of purest Velsturman muscle, Elosqir knew. That advantage was that in a crowd, people wanted to stay away from such a person as much as they could so it was very easy for him to keep up with Joseph; Elosqir knew that nothing good was ever likely to come from what Joseph was doing, especially if he was now tracking a Celari citizen through the shop.

"By 'I'll by it,' do you mean 'You're going to buy this?'" Maria scanned the exchange programmes card and an assistant boxed the gun with a small amount of amunition and a carrying case before handing it to Cotura.

[Woodstovia]

"I guess so." said Allen. Taking a second to enjoy Alicia's hug.

[The High Tatras]

"What? Don't be sorry. No cages, eh?" A dangerous gleam appeared in Si's gaze as she finished paying. "Well, you can show me how that weapon of yours works then. Just in case.... But I did also want to see where Josef was going. We'll have to take a detour then. Come along Taras, we need to catch up." Sheathing her sword and putting the gun-Axe hybrid in her satchel, she took his hand and strode forwards, building up a powerful pace.

"Oh, okay. I... I suppose we could do that first, but... He... He... He is kind of scary. You see, I come from a nation that was founded as a utopian egalitarian social experiment by defeated peasant revolutionaries and religious heretics in surrounding countries, or simply serfs who ran away from their masters. At the time, the aristocracies of several neighboring countries were expanding the institution of serfdom due to favorable conditions for exporting grain to Western Europe. There were also a few who were burghers or even lesser nobility who naively decided to give up their privileged status and become "free adventurers". They had build a new society together and eventually they developed a common identity. I think... I think... I think if he knew about my heritage he would really hate me. I know you are a noblewoman yourself, Pani Sierra, but I think you are a much nicer person than he is." said Taras to Sierra.

[The greater Vakolicci Haven]

"Are you ready to carry on?" Alicia asked, not breaking from the embrace.

[Crumb-Cashew]

Cottura took the box gratefully. "Thank you very much."

[Woodstovia]

Allen nodded slowly, too embarrassed by what was happening to say much.

[Valaran]

"Oh, okay. I... I suppose we could do that first, but... He... He... He is kind of scary. You see, I come from a nation that was founded as a utopian egalitarian social experiment by defeated peasant revolutionaries and religious heretics in surrounding countries, or simply serfs who ran away from their masters. At the time, the aristocracies of several neighboring countries were expanding the institution of serfdom due to favorable conditions for exporting grain to Western Europe. There were also a few who were burghers or even lesser nobility who naively decided to give up their privileged status and become "free adventurers". They had build a new society together and eventually they developed a common identity. I think... I think... I think if he knew about my heritage he would really hate me. I know you are a noblewoman yourself, Pani Sierra, but I think you are a much nicer person than he is." said Taras to Sierra.

"You know what? I think you need to relax and enjoy life a little bit more. And he'll only know about you if you recount the story of your people so much." On a whim, she mussed his hair. "Much better." She nodded approvingly and then laughed, before skipping along to follow Josef again. "Oh and what makes you think my nation isn't also egalitarian, hm? Or that I'm even a nice person?". She didn't admit but but it was also interesting to see Taras talk about his nation. It gave a her nice perspective to then watch his fumbling flattery. It was almost cute.

Josef freiherr von Schofield

"Why are you following along with me Sienna?", he asked to the girl as he made his way for the signal. He looked back to see girl giving a grin and wink as he set off to try and find his thief.

After a while he realized more followed him. Quickly turning on his heels he said, "This is just a gentleman's matter, I assure you nothing too horrifying will happen." He grinned at that last part as he realized what he wanted to do turning back around he shed off his white medical corps jacket and ran through the crowds of people attempting to lose his pursuers. "Gentleman can be such rough creatures after all", he snickered in thought as he attempted to try and disappear and find the thief.

"And there I was hoping for some gory sacrifice." Si did a mock sigh. And then realised he'd gotten away. Drat. "Oh well" she turned back to Taras, sighing for real this time. "Maybe it isn't worth the effort."

[Prussio]

Josef freiherr von Schofield

"Please, giant I have no need of your assistance or supervision", he yelled back towards the man as he checked his datapad. "Almost there", he thought looking at his pad seeing the dot was almost on top of him. Images of torture, flaying of skin, burning, shocking, and all other dark thoughts of malice went through his head as he neared the thief. Eventually, Josef stopped in his track the dot saying he was meters away from him.

As he looked up he saw the man letting out a small whoop of excitement . "Hello, I need some assistance you seem to owe me my credit chip", Josef said rapidly advancing on the boy.

[The greater Vakolicci Haven]

Marus Radnal, throwaway character

"Are you an idiot or what?" Marus stood, leaning on a pillar, a long self-rolled cigarette in his hand. He blew a cloud of smoke into Joseph's face.
"I've already banked that cash, mate," he told him. "I'm Celari. Welcome in...we don't give 2 shits about foreigners."
Out of sight, a Velsturman crouched, surveying the action from behind a nearby fountain.

[The greater Vakolicci Haven]

Alicia sighed almost longingly before breaking the embrace.
"Now," she said. "you have a 32 inch wasteline last it was measured, yes? So..." she parused the shelves, filled with an assortment of sexually disturbing impliments. "This will fit you." She handed him a steel belt, with an obvious lock set into the back and a set of 3 rings for holding the penis inside a long steel cage.

[Geara]

Andrew suddenly reappeared, having vanished almost as soon as the group exited the cars. Behind him, a pile of boxes that generally resembled the imus struggled under a burdensome cargo. Andrew himself had a light hold on the brilliantly polished handle of a briquet, which he balanced between two outstretched palms with the utmost delicacy. What he saw was a euphoric Josef stamping towards a boy. The comparison of stature was unfortunately weighted, but the swagger of the lad seemed to outmatch the stampeding Josef.

[Crumb-Cashew]

Cottura's small cell phone was beeping in her pocket, attracting quite a few stares. She took it out swiftly, opening the khaki-colored case to answer the call. Although cell phones were relatively new in Crumb-Cashew, most people her age owned one.
"Buongiorno, this is Cottura Crumb from abroad," she answered.
The response was an automatic recording, spoken in a rich voice. "This is Soldi Cannellini from the Crumb-Cashew Embassy Unit, attempting to reach Cottura Crumb in Uldartre Academy, Celeria. We are informing Cottura Crumb that an exchange student is currently arriving in Roma City Airport to further improve relations with the Academy and to accompany the current one after a good report from Ms. Crumb. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your day."
Cottura turned off the phone. She had not thought about it so far, but the head of the Unit had told her that if they received a content report from Cottura, they would send another student to accompany her. Cottura suddenly felt excited; she wondered what the new student would be like. They'd be a Crumb, for sure, which made Cottura feel better. She didn't know if she would know them when they arrived; it could be Briciola Incolla, the pretty girl she had worked with as a diplomat, or Grano Insetto, the aspiring military general. Perhaps even Soldi Crumb or Regno Cipolla, although she didn't know the latter very well.

[Meinkraft]

Sienna simply followed the enormous man through the crowd, unperturbed by his height.

[The High Tatras]

"Oh, okay. I... I suppose we could do that first, but... He... He... He is kind of scary. You see, I come from a nation that was founded as a utopian egalitarian social experiment by defeated peasant revolutionaries and religious heretics in surrounding countries, or simply serfs who ran away from their masters. At the time, the aristocracies of several neighboring countries were expanding the institution of serfdom due to favorable conditions for exporting grain to Western Europe. There were also a few who were burghers or even lesser nobility who naively decided to give up their privileged status and become "free adventurers". They had build a new society together and eventually they developed a common identity. I think... I think... I think if he knew about my heritage he would really hate me. I know you are a noblewoman yourself, Pani Sierra, but I think you are a much nicer person than he is." said Taras to Sierra.

"You know what? I think you need to relax and enjoy life a little bit more. And he'll only know about you if you recount the story of your people so much." On a whim, she mussed his hair. "Much better." She nodded approvingly and then laughed, before skipping along to follow Josef again. "Oh and what makes you think my nation isn't also egalitarian, hm? Or that I'm even a nice person?". She didn't admit but but it was also interesting to see Taras talk about his nation. It gave a her nice perspective to then watch his fumbling flattery. It was almost cute.

Josef freiherr von Schofield

"Why are you following along with me Sienna?", he asked to the girl as he made his way for the signal. He looked back to see girl giving a grin and wink as he set off to try and find his thief.

After a while he realized more followed him. Quickly turning on his heels he said, "This is just a gentleman's matter, I assure you nothing too horrifying will happen." He grinned at that last part as he realized what he wanted to do turning back around he shed off his white medical corps jacket and ran through the crowds of people attempting to lose his pursuers. "Gentleman can be such rough creatures after all", he snickered in thought as he attempted to try and disappear and find the thief.

"And there I was hoping for some gory sacrifice." Si did a mock sigh. And then realised he'd gotten away. Drat. "Oh well" she turned back to Taras, sighing for real this time. "Maybe it isn't worth the effort."

"Um... I did not mean to insult you, Pani Sierra. It is just that... It is just that... Um... Perhaps this is a circumstance where action would speak louder than words?" said Taras to Sierra. Then he opened his shopping bag and presented Sierra with a bouquet of flowers.

"These belong to the species "Viburnum opulus", which is better known as the "guelder rose". They are my homeland's national flower, and I arranged them myself, albeit not very well if you ask me. Please accept this as a gift from me to you." said Taras to Sierra.

[Prussio]

Marus Radnal, throwaway character

"Are you an idiot or what?" Marus stood, leaning on a pillar, a long self-rolled cigarette in his hand. He blew a cloud of smoke into Joseph's face.
"I've already banked that cash, mate," he told him. "I'm Celari. Welcome in...we don't give 2 shits about foreigners."
Out of sight, a Velsturman crouched, surveying the action from behind a nearby fountain.

"Wonderful", Josef said smoothly a bright smile on his face as he took out a needle. "Now, that first shot was a tracker this is a extreme painkiller", he said flicking the end of the syringe. "Enough of this would kill an average man, but I wish for you to live for the second part of this lesson", Josef continued as if tutoring a younger student, "this will leave your muscles unable to operate for long enough for me to get you out of the building and obtain my supplies. You see the most expensive thing is procuring subjects for the tools, no one wants to be a lab rat, and you as a lowly peasant seem to fit my needs." Josef then neared the man. "That money is part of a Prussion contract chip which by the end of being spent, which you so kindly did, allows me to do whatever we wish to the subject as they were to stupid to read the actual contract or they stole the thing and signed their data into the contract", he said giving the needle a quick look. "You are now nothing, mine, until you die which if I'm feeling kind will be soon", Josef then shot forward in an almost inhuman speed puncturing the man's arm. "You have two seconds to talk before the drug takes affect and halts your ability to speak and use your motor skills, and you will lose consciousness at 27", Josef said pushing down the plunger watching the liquid course into his arm.

"Please, say what you wish, and thank you for helping me find the hardest thing on my list", Josef said admiring his handiwork. "Damn, I'm good", he said beginning to laugh maniacally at his capture.

[Valaran]

"No offence taken Taras." She smiled back at him, and then stopped as he took out the flowers.

Her eyes widened, and she actually blushed. She looked back at him as her cheeks flushed, in a different light. "Uh, thank you. That's really sweet of you to do this." She awkwardly took the bouquet and turned away.

Suddenly she hesitated and back turned back to kiss him on the cheek, before blushing again and walking off, trying to clear her head.

[The High Tatras]

"No offence taken Taras." She smiled back at him, and then stopped as he took out the flowers.

Her eyes widened, and she actually blushed. She looked back at him as her cheeks flushed, in a different light. "Uh, thank you. That's really sweet of you to do this." She awkwardly took the bouquet and turned away.

Suddenly she hesitated and back turned back to kiss him on the cheek, before blushing again and walking off, trying to clear her head.

"Uh... Peace be with you." Taras said instinctively to Sierra after she kissed him on the cheek. He meant to return the favor but she walked away before he could do so.

"Um... That was not a "holy kiss" or "kiss of peace", was it?" he said thereafter.

[Woodstovia]

Allen looked at the device hesitantly and even prodded it a few times, it seemed cold and cruel. "Okay I'll wear it." He muttered meekly.

[The greater Vakolicci Haven]

It only took 2 seconds for the drug to take effect, and so Marus used it wisely. Before the kneedle had entered his arm, he was immediately drawing a deep breath before bellowing a single Celari word.
"Krandjit!" Krandjit: attack, something that the Celari were hard-wired to respond to. Men and women came running, rifles drawn.

What didn't take 2 seconds, however, was an angry Velsturman going in for the kill. Elosqir grabbed Joseph by the throat and attempted to wrestle him to the floor.

"I know you'll wear it," Alicia said, handing it over to the shop assistant and scanning her card. "It locks as well which means my toys will be all safe from your fingers. We wouldn't want you to start playing with things that aren't yours, that would not be good!"

[Valaran]

That confused her even more, and Si began to wonder whether this was all some practical joke. She dismissed the idea, but there still nagging doubts in her head.

"You know, I have utterly no clue what those two mean, so I'm going to assume it was neither. It was a kiss of gratitude and ...." She trailed off, unable to say anything more. "I, uh should go for a little bit. Well maybe. I don't know." She definitely needed to take a step back though. Suddenly the game had gotten a little intense for her.

[The High Tatras]

That confused her even more, and Si began to wonder whether this was all some practical joke. She dismissed the idea, but there still nagging doubts in her head.

"You know, I have utterly no clue what those two mean, so I'm going to assume it was neither. It was a kiss of gratitude and ...." She trailed off, unable to say anything more. "I, uh should go for a little bit. Well maybe. I don't know." She definitely needed to take a step back though. Suddenly the game had gotten a little intense for her.

"A traditional greeting between two people in The High Tatras is the "holy kiss" or "kiss of peace", in which one kisses another on the cheek and says "peace be with you". It is an ancient custom dating back to the earliest days of Christianity. It is done even between people of the same gender, and it would normally have no romantic connotations whatsoever... but... but... but... I think... Pani Sierra, will you... Pani Sierra? I am sorry, I see you need some time alone without me bothering you." said Taras as Si was walking away. A tear dripped down one of his eyes.

[Valaran]

"Oh." It seemed Si had a knack for elegant responses in these situations. Maybe I misinterpreted his actions. But the flowers.... She halted and turned back to look at him.

"You weren't bothering me Taras. I jsut need a little break from it all." She attempted a smile. "And peace be with you."

[Woodstovia]

Allen nodded meekly and took the bag in which the shop assistant stored the device. He was already carrying an absurd number of bags and a new one didn't help his situation. "Can we go now?" He whimpered.

[The greater Vakolicci Haven]

"We're going to the changing rooms first," Alicia said with a smile, pulling Allen around the corner into the public changing rooms and locking it behind them.
"I'm going to be nice. You've got a choice between all these clothes...but obviously you don't have the choice over that marvelous belt."