Curiosity did what, now?

[lurkingkobold]

The kobold's research cave is coming along nicely, after her previous adventure - the floor carefully flattened (by teleporting stone out) and softened (by teleporting sand in); the permanent portals to Deva and the cavern's exit, currently closed to anyone who doesn't know the passwords, but marked off, with spaces set aside for several more portals; her experimenting supplies tucked away behind further portals in her workspace; a small cache set up for her new translation necklace and any other magical items she might happen to find in her travels.

And, now, another portal, leading to another new world. She double-checks that she has her traveling gear - translation necklace, teleporting ring, twine - completes the spell, and peers through.

Comments

[last_one_out]

Elarron smiles.

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk smiles too, a shy little grin, and asks "settling in okay?"

[last_one_out]

"Yeah. River's been a big help."

[lurkingkobold]

Her grin widens into a proper smile, and she nods. "Staying with...?"

"He'll be in Shell's old workshop, over by the lake, for now. There was a little problem with some magic."

Dusk makes a face, a mixture of disappointed and annoyed. "Guards?" she directs at River.

"Yup. I haven't figured out who yet."

She makes an annoyed little huff. "Headache tonight. I'll try for tomorrow."

[last_one_out]

"Hm?" says Elarron.

[lurkingkobold]

River sighs. (Dusk looks annoyed, though not at anyone present in particular.) "People would panic if we let a stranger with unidentified magic go unaccompanied, it's just too risky. Which probably means you're with me during the day, for the next few days at least, and you'll have guards at night."

[last_one_out]

When River says 'guards at night', the tip of Elarron's tail starts flicking back and forth. He takes a moment to compose himself, though he's still mostly calm.

"I see," he says evenly. "I guess that's a reasonable concern given how your magic works. But maybe it would be more convenient for everyone if I left the village entirely at night rather than make someone stand around guarding me."

[lurkingkobold]

River's pace falters for just a moment at this suggestion. "That's not the... safest thing you could be doing. Though I suppose if you're basically nocturnal it might not be too bad."

"Star and I can go," offers Dusk. "The forest is nice at night."

[last_one_out]

"I haven't tried it yet for obvious reasons but I have good reason to expect I'll be much better at navigating this world at night, so I was planning on going out to try to get to know the area anyway - it's unsettling to be in a place I don't know my way around. And - well, if you want to come along you can, I guess - who's Star?"

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk and River nod their acceptance; River still looks reluctant. "My lynx," offers Dusk in response to the question.

[last_one_out]

"Sure, you and Star can come along. But I do mean to stay out all night."

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk nods with a slightly smug grin, "mmhmm."

[last_one_out]

He shrugs. "Suit yourself, then. I thought people in the sunlit lands preferred to sleep at night when they could manage it."

[lurkingkobold]

She seems to find this amusing. "Most. I..." handwave, "I sleep mornings. And the forest is nice at night."

[last_one_out]

"Okay."

[lurkingkobold]

Grin.

And shortly they arrive at River's house. River dims the lights to Dusk's satisfaction, and after a moment's consideration dims them even further, and then gets started on dinner. "Do you like your soup any particular way, Elarron?"

[last_one_out]

Elarron is noticeably pleased about the dimmer light.

"I have no strong soup-related preferences."

[lurkingkobold]

"All right." Soup construction commences, and after another moment, River asks, "how was the trapping, Dusk? Any idea when we might get them?"

"No idea. Lots of traps, soon maybe." She doesn't seem quite so pleased about this as she has been about other things; she mostly just seems tired, actually, or perhaps resigned.

[last_one_out]

Elarron has nothing to say about the traps. The exact flavour of nothing that he's refraining from saying is that while he doesn't think it's his business to advise the elves on how to conduct themselves, he wouldn't be trying to trap tigerfolk over any of the things he has heard of the tigerfolk possibly doing.

[lurkingkobold]

River has her back to Elarron and Dusk while she cooks, which may be for the best. "That's good, the sooner the better. Even if we can't get you home, Elarron, everyone will be much less on edge once that's taken care of."

[last_one_out]

"Honestly, I don't have high hopes about going home anytime soon."

[lurkingkobold]

This gets Elarron a look from Dusk - confused and curious and concerned.

"Even aside from that, I mean. I think I mentioned we've had some trouble with the tigerfolk, recently? That has us all a little upset right now."

[last_one_out]

"Yeah, I remember. I'm just saying, I don't think my specific problem is going to be solved by anything to do with tigerfolk. It still seems much likelier to me that whatever trap-or-something I ran into was from my world, and I might have to wait to go home until someone from my world figures it out and comes to get me, unless someone here independently figures out how to put me back first."

[lurkingkobold]

River nods. "Well, you'll probably be welcome to stay regardless." And with that, she sets the soup to simmering. "Double batch of the cornbread, Dusk, and you can take the rest with you tonight?"

"Yes please." It's hard to tell, but she might be a bit pensive now.

[last_one_out]

Dusk is reminding Elarron very much of his brother Inlaith. He smiles quietly to himself.