[img]https://i.imgur.com/7PmlLRO.png[/img]

[@Rune_Alchemist]

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[color=slategray]"Hmm...well, might as well try my luck. Hey, explodey mage. Did you intend to blow yourself up, or are you terrible at your job?"[/color]

The words caught Calliope of guard. She had been living in this area of town for a few years, and most of the residents were used to her, errrr, experiments. Explosions were not the most uncommon thing to happen in the area over the last few years. Before responding to the little fox that had spoken to her, Calliope reminisced for a few seconds about the past. She remembered the guards had been called on more than one occasion when her neighbors complained about the noise. Well, they were all past that now. That was why she was so surprised that someone had called out to her. 

Turning her gaze, Calliope was met with a very small fox person. She had a mocking gaze flashing through her eyes. It took but a split second for Calliope to realize what was going on. Mmmmm. She was just bored and was picking a fight. As such, the witch tilted her head and walked over, a subtle smile flitting across her lips.

Placing her hands on her hips, she leaned over so that she could meet Mie's gaze head on.

[color=f6989d]"Well now, you don't have to worry 'little one', this Explodey Mage knows exactly what she is doing. You must be new around here. Did your parents bring you to travel around recently? Where are they right now? You shouldn't wander off on your own and speak to strangers."[/color]

Her eyes were smiling, not letting on in the slightest that she was fully aware that Mie was an adult. Still, when one messes with you, you are in full right to mess back yes?

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[img]https://i.imgur.com/MZhEBWd.png[/img]

[@FamishedPants]

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It had been a long while since Duran had taken the opportunity for a nice long rest. At this moment, he was lying beneath a tree, enjoying a book that he had purchased some time ago, but never had the time to read. His last few months had been packed to the brim with work of any sort. Adventuring work, laboring work etc. He was essentially busy all the time. and while he did enjoy this brief moment of rest, there was also another thought that crossed his mind. [i][color=0054a6]Well now, this is a little boring, now isn't it?[/color][/i] It was not a thought that he had been liable to have in the past. Maybe it was because he didn't have that same excitement at the prospect of new work that he had in the past. Or maybe it was because none of the work that had come to him in recent months was as exciting as he was used to. There wasn't anything wrong with working in the forge, in fact he enjoyed it, but it wasn't the same as adventuring.

It was at this time, when his mind was locked in the grips of his contemplation, that a young man burst forth onto the streets.

[color=c1ba46]"I will make my way back to this place once it gets dark, assuming that I am not blessed with a better place. Until then, I suggest you guys stay in groups, but I don't intend on babysitting you. Good bye."[/color]

He was dressed in frankly rather strange clothing. Oh, how his prayers had been answered. With a snap, Duran closed his book and hopped to his feet. He jogged over to the youth that was new emerged from the building, waiting just a bit so that he could get some free space from the building he had exited. He didn't particularly want to interact with just anyone. This young man in particular had caught his interest. 

Once he was sufficiently on his own, Duran clapped him on his shoulder.

[color=0054a6]"Oy lad. You don't look to be from around here. How's about this old man help you out with what you're looking for?"[/color]

Now, Duran was only a couple inches taller than Alistair, but his frame was loaded from top to bottom with muscle. He must have weighed at least 50 lbs more than the young man, giving him a much more imposing form. That form was much offset by the smile on his face. It was clear to anyone with even a little bit of EQ that he didn't mean anything bad by his interaction. He was just truly interested by this young man.