linkingup | FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST

[They really have to stop meeting up like this... And yet, if it means having someone reliable at his back? It's... fine. We can continue to ignore similarities in public.]

[Welcome, both of you, to a beach. That tug of irritation hasn't lessened any now that you're here - and in fact, just seems to be increasing.

You're here to get some stolen goods back for a merchant. The man begged for your help. You don't have to help him, but you're a good person, aren't you? Don't you want to help?

And so you're here. His goods - three large wooden crates - have been taken by several strange little guys. You recognize them as Qiqirn, and you know they are hardly a threat.

Still, what will you do?]

[ Did u ask for the wizard? No, but he is here—

And he strides boldly towards the little guys. He's trying not to let his irritation get to him, but there's still a frown on his face. ]

I believe you have something that does not belong to you.

[A good person? Dubious, when that now ever-present tug of irritation is directed at... the merchant... that sent him on this quest, which he apparently accepted by investigating a window? Why don't spooky palace windows with quests have a terms and conditions page, first?

Anyway.

With Rutile approaching the Harmless Little Guys (who also happen to be thieves?) somewhat ominously, Celeste is, perhaps unsurprisingly (especially to their third party member, but we don't talk about that) going to put a gentle hand on the wizard's arm so he doesn't come out swinging immediately... Though maybe that thought is because he's used to others who would absolutely fight first.]

Why did you take them?

[Because, like, he can be convinced pretty easily to look the other way--]

[ McGillis is standing behind Celeste like a slightly taller shadow sharing the same sentiments. His first instinct when seeing theft isn't exactly anger at the thieves, even if by law it should be.

Are the crates labeled with what may be in them? He's curious. ]

[Unfortunately not. It's hard to tell what's in them just from looking at them over here.]

[ bless that hand there because he Will punch if left to his own devices,

It helps, a bit. ]

[The Little Guys™ chitter amongst themselves for a moment - the general consensus you can get is that they're feeling a little aggro toward you all, because you're in their territory and this is theirs now, though they don't give a good reason for why they've stolen these crates, what's in the crates, or... really anything useful. They don't seem to have a leader figure to talk to either, so they're talking over each other and generally just being kind of a mess.

Regardless, they are not giving the crates back. Your irritation increases.]

[The aggro towards them is completely justified - they are not also Little Guys and have suddenly appeared and are asking about their loot. Any self-respecting Little Guy would be concerned.

But this is a palace, and there is probably a set order of things, so when the irritation increases, Celeste will try to... press the matter a little bit, instead of just leaving (and dragging Rutile with him).

Granted, he does this by approaching whichever Little Guy is the Biggest Little Guy and bending down to their level.]

We don't want to hurt you, or take your things from you... But we do want to know why the merchant is so upset. He's an ass, no?

[Workaholic says down with capitalism--]

[ McGillis is going to wait and see how this approach plays out, because it is indeed similarly to how he would do it........ ]

[ Being dragged, as he is used to.

Rutile huffs a bit as they bicker, and he squirms a bit in Celeste's hold. ]

Jeez. [ They didn't listen to him so obviously they're not going to listen at all (irritation brain). ] If they're not going to answer, let's just take them back.

[ McGillis sighs a little. ]

We might have to, if that is the logic of this place.

[ But also he clearly does not want to and feels more Irritation(TM) at having been put in the position to do it. ]

But let's wait for a moment more.

[ Rutile wants to. He's so susceptible to effects like this, and is hard to keep his Mom's Side™ in check when under the influence.

So he gives a little pouty huff, like a child, and sticks his lower lip out. ]

Fine.

[ He'll BEHAVE. ]

[What did this merchant even do to you, Celeste???

But more seriously, the Little Guys definitely agree. He's definitely an ass!! Do they even know who he is? Well, not really. They just sort of took his things because they wanted them. Needed them! But he's definitely an ass.

...This is probably not very productive and they seem to be stuck on calling the guy an ass now. But the Little Guys do seem to like Celeste more so there's that...?]

[He's an expy for every ~merchant~ he's had a run-in with when he was a Little Guy himself, don't worry about it--

But the want/need line is something he can follow up on! Probably! So he is very much nodding along in agreement that of course they needed... whatever's in the crates.]

And what do you all need so much that you had to take such a big, brave risk, hm?

[ Oh, this is a sort of charisma that Rutile has no mastery over (it is very Western?), so he keeps himself in check and watches Celeste work the little guys.

He'll scold them later— ]

[ Walks in late with Starbucks but hello, Yoon is going to observe with Rutile. Go Celeste! Go!!! ]

[The general consensus seems to be "we wanted it, so we took it" though some say that they needed it, or that they want to sell it. Do the Little Guys even know what's in the crates? Hmm. Regardless, they sure are proud of their acquisition!

They also have notably not overheard Rutile and McGillis, so they're relaxing quite a bit around the three of you now.]

[So he may be getting a sneaking suspicion that these particular Little Guys aren't quite as In Need as immediately assumed.

...But that will certainly depend entirely on what is in the crates, considering he does remember how bloody they looked on the window that threw them all into the scene.

So. Time to put that good will to use and try to approach said crates to try and see what's in them.]

[ McGillis sees what Celeste is doing and decides to likewise crouch down and talk to some little guys. Distraction maneuvers! ]

Does it go for much? Market sales these days aren't what they used to be...

[ Not that the answer would matter to him much, he's just buying Celeste some less eyes on him. ]

[Good call, McGillis. In fact, it's such a good call that they will go off on wild tangents about how the people in La Noscea just do not recognize how much things are worth! People these days! Can't even buy raw eggs for the same price you used to! Seven whole gold instead of six per egg? An absolute robbery!

Celeste meanwhile will be able to get a sneak peak into one of the crates. It looks like the majority of the contents are goods to be sold - fine cloth and clothing gently swaddles many variations of seeds as well, though those obviously need to be planted and grown with care. All of this certainly looks like Typical Merchant Goods, but there's strangely no blood anywhere! Huh.

You'll find yourself becoming more annoyed by this entire situation. The Little Guys, the merchant, the fact that you were sent on this dumb fetch quest to begin with...]

[This is all so... very, very mundane, for a palace. Obviously, for it to be here, Fray must have endured some similar scenario, but...

For it to be here, there must be some sort of catch, right? Is it the grey morality of helping the merchant, when the Little Guys actually needed these goods? Is it that the Little Guys aren't actually as needy as thievery would indicate they are? Is the Irritation growing more at the ambiguity of it? Yes, very much so.]

...What do you need from these crates, and what are you planning to sell?

[The Little Guys look over, squawking and fussing about Celeste going through "their" things. The answers seem to be all over the place - some of the Little Guys are looking curiously through the boxes now that Celeste has it open, some are trying to claim that they need these goods to make money, some are insisting that these items are necessary for... some reason... and some are saying it's none of Celeste's business. Regardless, they're getting annoyed as well, from the sound of it, and the agitation is quickly spreading through them.]

... we're getting nowhere here, and these guys aren't even real.

[ Thanks to the building agitation, McGillis has hit his threshold of goodwill here. If these were real people then maybe he would hesitate for longer, but... they're not, they're fragments of Fray's mind and Fray's mind wants them to move the narrative forward.

So McGillis is just going to go and pick up a crate. To carry back to the mysterious merchant.

... that will surely go fine. ]

[McGillis won't have any problem picking it up - it's bulky, but not super heavy. The Little Guys, on the other hand, will absolutely swarm around him, yapping away at how he needs to give it back, that he's stealing. How dare he!!

Regardless, he can take the crate back to the town and the merchant, if he'd like. Or toss it in the ocean or something, I'm not the boss of you.]

FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

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