[center][abbr=Octopath Travelers][img]https://i.imgur.com/vqBbCJL.png[/img][/abbr]
[sup]____________________________________________________[/sup]
[color=D34C25][u]Level[/u]: [b]11[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 332/110[/color] [color=2e2c2c]------[/color] [color=BC8DBF][u]Level[/u]: [b]10[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 389/100[/color]
[color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color] [color=2e2c2c]----------------------------[/color] [color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color]
[color=lightgray][sub][i]Friday Morning[/i][/sub]
Word Count: 987 (+2 exp)
[b]Location[/b]: Esaka's Low-Tier, the Forbidden Kingdom[/color][/center]
There were probably a bunch of similar street diners, but with Roland's direction, finding the morning's meeting place was fairly easy. Primrose arrived just as she said she would, looking as pristine as ever. She slipped into a seat at the table after having already caught a server on her way over, and soon after a small plate of baozi and spiced, simmered whole eggs was placed in front of her. She'd ordered what had seemed interesting on the tables of the other diners and was not disappointed in the eggs, which smelled wonderful and had an appealing spiderweb of sauce cooked into their whites. Their warm flavor came through just find despite how delicate they looked.

[color=D34C25]"Good morning~"[/color]

She had not arrived alone of course, as her partner in crime Therion accompanied her. The sight of the two of them together was a pretty common one after all. The thief had chosen to indulge in the fruit he'd swiped the day before, though just like at dinner he wasn't shy about picking from the plates of Seekers distracted with striking up conversation.

Speaking of, Roland expressed his concern about his next opponent, but Therion had even less to say about that combatant than he had about Azrael last night. [color=BC8DBF]"He's not very popular,"[/color] he told Roland, which suggested that this "one shot, one kill" business was a "cheap gimmick" as the local yokai population would put it. He met Roland's eye, his next words meant to be ribbing. [color=BC8DBF]"I'd just avoid that 'one shot' if I were you."[/color]

The Orsterrans both gave a nod at Amaterasu's news as delivered by Rika, and even Therion barely stifled a snort of laughter at Yayama's unexpected joke. Neither of them had a clue what their angelic captain meant either, though they supposed it could have been related to what the divine wolf had brought to their attention. 

Like any band of traveling adventurers though, there was an interest in trading a few stories brought up. Primrose and Therion had both been in the Under with Bowser Jr. and Rika and were content to let the siblings tell these stories, though they did chime in went they felt like it. 

[color=BC8DBF]"Even bigger dragon-turtle,"[/color] Therion said for Yayama's benefit when the koopa prince mentioned "papa," and when Rika followed with the same word he nodded toward the girl and added, [color=BC8DBF]"penchant for adopting."[/color] Or at least that's what he'd overheard a few others say about the missing Bowser. 

When the siblings began arguing on whose choice in information was better, Primrose leaned in towards the detective and lalafell and said, [color=D34C25]"P was a spoiled dictator that could meddle with time itself. Very irksome. And poor Asgore... he'd been fighting alone for a long time. They're right though, he was one of the first to really clue us in to the true nature of this world."[/color]

She dipped a finger into her glass of water she'd been given along with her tea and drew out the vague shape of a [url=https://i.imgur.com/EjT3hsX.png]sun[/url] on a napkin, still visible even as it started to dry. Then she did the same with another shape, this one appearing to look more like an eye.

[color=D34C25]"He and that Master of Masters... they gave us these two symbols to look out for."[/color] Though the dancer couldn't say that she'd seen any before or since. She also added with an amused smile and glance at the royal siblings, [color=D34C25]"as I recall, the old king would have taken exception to anyone trying to claim one of those memorials."[/color]

At some point Therion had leaned back and folded his arms behind his head. He did not bring up the Basement that part of the then Purple Team in the Under had suffered through, because it was disgusting and hardly the kind of topic for breakfast. Although his nose did wrinkle slightly at the mention of Consul F, he didn't say more than amend the reason for the Home of Tear's constant rain. After a scalding dunk into it, he wouldn't have been able to forget. [color=BC8DBF]"Big underground lake above it."[/color]

As for older stories for Yayama, Primrose hummed and mentioned the Sandswept Sky, just a region or two away from the Forbidden Kingdom they found themselves in now. [color=D34C25]"We traveled a vast desert before that, climbed a huge mountain, rode an... iron train to destroy a giant demonic worm,"[/color] she said, briefly gesturing between herself and two other Seekers. [color=D34C25]"That was where we picked up Therion and Big Band."[/color]

If there actually was a hierarchy among the Seekers of Light based on how long they'd been with the group, Primrose would have been higher up on that ladder, only a few rungs below Junior - though she didn't say as much.

[color=BC8DBF]"And now we're here doing 'official' fights and teaming up with some spies. For the 'good of the city,'"[/color] Therion said. He'd beaten it away from Al Mamoon after getting his fill of it pretty quickly, but after having not thought about it for a while he could see some superficial similarities with Esaka... or at least with factions within Esaka.

Primrose took a sip of her tea and then looked over the gathered group. [color=D34C25]"Oh, yes, that UN group you all were working with? Sakura, Therion, and myself paid a visit to that headquarters last night. Their leader would like to extend a formal invitation to work together."[/color]

The edges of her mouth quirked up, apparently having thought the need for formalities a little silly. [color=D34C25]"Also, discounted hospital stays and... ki-tuning. One of their members mentioned it would really help those fighting in the tournaments. A process to strengthen the body that she likened to... tuning an instrument's strings.

"I plan to go hear more about it myself this morning."[/color] Far be it to leave untapped power on the table.