[IC] Starting Again (Fleeter and Ontos)

[Fleeter]

Zhijiru's blood was going to a boil. He realized this though, and tried to take some deep breaths. Zhijiru had one thing on his mind and that was his father's sword. He hopped into the wagon, and lifted wooden seat. Thank god he didn't sell the wagon, at least, as the sword was still hidden there. He took it out and held it in between his arms. He laid down on the empty but still dirty wagon floor, looking straight up. He was probably going to buy more than a few drinks after this. He laid there for a bit and started to laugh lightly. Then he laughed a little louder and louder each time until he had streams running down both sides of his face. He smiled as he settled down. "You're an ass, Luca."

[Ontos]

Luca backed off a bit when Zhijiru's face turned black. What was he angry about? He stayed silent as Zhijiru dug for something in the wagon, and smiled as Zhijiru cried and laughed at the same time, clutching the sword. Wait, when did Zhijiru get that sword, anyway? "You have a sword! And don't call me an ass!" Luca placed his hands at his, fortunately, not-so-feminine hips, and shot daggers with his eyes for just a moment. Cupping the coins with his hands, Luca walked over to the wagon and let the coins fall onto the wagon interior, and smiled as he leaned against the wagon on the outside, just beside Zhijiru. "So, what do you want to do with this money?"

[Fleeter]

Zhijiru, forgetting everything about the chicken, thanks to Luca, now wanted more than anything to just eat something good and get drunk. Maybe a chicken of their own. "Let's eat something. I'm starving!" Zhijiru took the sword sling and slung it on his back. The sword was in it's black scabbard and the hilt had engraved designs of white cranes. It wasn't a big sword, just a typical katana. Zhijiru got the rest of his money he had hidden, you know, the ones he kept away from the counter in case he was robbed. It was in a travel bag where the katana was hidden and also wore it against his back. Jiru pointed dramatically down the road. "And thus the party of two begins their journey! The journey to well deserved FOOD!" Jiru jumped down the side of the wagon, beckoning to Luca to join him.

[Ontos]

Luca joined Jiru by his side, lying back at the wagon for a moment. "I earned that money, you know!" He began to ponder what to eat. Meat, soup, bread... perhaps a buffet would only suffice for the best of times. There was a shop nearby that sold mouth-watering meat pies of every variety, even if he believed that cats were sometimes used for filling when they ran out of other sources. Another shop sold great soup dishes, though there were occasional rumours of human bones being used for soup stock. They needed to get better shops around here, or less gossiping hens.

[Fleeter]

"But it's MY stuff you sold!" Zhijiru took Luca by his wrist and started running along the market happily smiling and excited, "Forget that anyways! There's this place I've always wanted to go to!" Zhijiru continued to run across the street and turned out of the busy streets. In the distance was a lonely stone and wooden shop, with smoke coming out of the chimney. It had a faded dark red, nearly brown porch and sign saying, "The Crimson Cottage." As they neared Zhijiru let go of Luca and ran to the porch, which at the end of the railing, there was a view below as the porch was lifted over short cliff. In the distance was a forest, and the sounds of birds chirping could be heard from the cottage. Zhijiru took in a deep breath and smelled the delicious steaks cooking inside. There currently wasn't anyone here, and it was usually a quiet place. Their stakes were expensive, and it was usually only filled when someone slayed a monster or celebrated the findings of treasure. "Come on, Luca!" Zhijiru waved as he entered the cottage, as he couldn't stand waiting any longer. The bell at the top of the door rung as the door opened, to notify the owner. Inside there was the grill in the middle of the room. Stools, chairs, benches and tables all around for the gatherings. There was a back room kitchen that was sectioned off by a counter that was currently being wiped down by a large but friendly looking man named Bill. "Why, I have some unlikely customers today." Bill looked at Zhijiru's sword strapped behind his back and started to chuckle lightly. Zhijiru clearly didn't look like a fighter, but in some ways he was reluctant assume that they were going to ask for a handout. He tried to nicely educate them, incase they thought it was a regular old restaurant. "This here is the Crimson Cottage boy, these won't be cheap meals or drinks you'll be having and assuming you've taken in any of the aroma here, I assure you they taste even better than it smells."

[Ontos]

Luca shuddered when the shop Zhijiru in mind had come into view. The Crimson Cottage. The most expensive shop in the village, and one rightfully so. Steaks worth the price of slaves in old tales, and drinks that bathed the tongue in wondrous yet sensible flavours that hurt the purse more than a talented bandit. The bell's ring made him cringe, though more of a surprise than anything else. Zhijiru's enthusiasm was quite appreciated, but Luca didn't expect them to eat here of all places. No one was here, other than the man managing the counter. A man called Bill, and probably someone who could beat up Zhijiru and Luca both with his bare hands in normal circumstances. Luca spent a moment to pray that the situation would never get that far, before following Jiru into the store proper. Bill's introduction to the store wasn't necessary (Luca's former mentor used to eat here once or twice, usually after a good deal), but the explanation calmed down Luca a bit. Perhaps Jiru wouldn't do anything risky. "Yeah..." Luca decided to let Zhijiru do the talking. A bad move would make him persona non grata. "Jiru... what do you intend on getting? I'll just have that."

[Fleeter]

Zhijiru asked for one of the cheaper meals. Expensive, actually, but cheaper. He ordered a smaller sized steak for two, because if he didn't specify, they would have ended up with portions the size of a party. Heroes did tend to eat a lot here, so the portions were sized specifically for them. When they sat down and waited for their meals, Zhijiru looked at Luca with a determination in his eye. "Luca, let's get out of here." Zhijiru paused for a bit, almost as if he needed to think about what he was saying, to make sure he wasn't going to take it back again. "Let's never come back too." Zhijiru looked a little uncertain, maybe even afraid, but he wasn't going to accept being stuck in the same routine as before.