Shadows of the Past

by dashboardgecko

A sequel to The Lost Civilization. It's been 25 years since the Alatreon was slain. The Lost are integrating into the hunter's era, and the world is slowly advancing. But darkness looms to the east, and even greater threats than before, both monster and human, are appearing to challenge the next generation of Lost. MH4U.

26. Rohkin

Rohkin

Disclaimer: Monster Hunter is copyright Capcom. All the characters in this story are mine, unless otherwise noted.

Edited by: Hoenn Master96 and Thomas A. Hawk

---

Scrape, scrape, scrape.

The sound of grinding echoed through the courtyard of Holzfaller Manor. The house was mostly empty right now, with only a few scarce lights lit, and for the most part the only people within the structure were a few housekeeping Felynes that scurried about doing their regular work in maintaining the building.

However, there was one person around that wasn't a hired hand. Logan sat on the entry stairs of the building, down on the lowest steps. Stretched out in front of him was his Zinogre great sword, a 'Despot's Blackstorm' style blade, the smith who'd constructed it had called it, though Logan honestly didn't care that much for such a fancy title. The tip of the blade pierced the ground in front of him, and at the moment Logan was carefully and methodically running a whetstone across the blades, sharpening the blade back to its former glory. It hadn't taken that much damage during the last five months, when Logan had kept it in storage, but nonetheless Logan wanted to make sure that it was in perfect condition, or at least as close as he could get it himself. It was a little awkward to accomplish with his left forearm still in a cast, but he could manage.

A low rumbling made him look up at the sky. The weather had taken a turn after the exam had ended, and dark clouds had been rolling over the city the last couple days, making the atmosphere muggy and thick. There hadn't been any real downpours yet, but smattering rains had been hitting the town every few hours.

The sound of footsteps on gravel caught his attention, and he looked up the walk to find Tuulikki approaching. The huntress was wearing her usual non-hunting attire, sturdy and comfortable form-fitting clothing made from multiple layers which revealed very little skin, save for her head, hands, and feet which were covered in sandals. He knew that her choice in clothing was all for the sake of Ketrak, so he would be able to crawl all over her without getting tangled up in loose clothing, so Logan was surprised to find the Kinsect being carried in the huntress' arms rather than clinging to her back, head, or arms.

"You are back from the hospital already?" she asked as she stopped next to him.

"Mmm… Ja," he nodded, returning his attention to his sword. "Doc said I should have the cast off in a couple weeks… Gonna be useless our first week on the road."

"Ah."

There was an awkward silence between them for a moment before Logan sighed and picked up the slack. "Thought you was out with Sonia and Bram over in the smithy district."

"Oh. I was. We were able to find a smithy that could construct a glaive from the Kut-Ku materials she possesses, and it should be ready within the week. She will have her new weapon before Stellazzio leaves the city." The huntress paused for a moment, a look of clear distaste crossing her face. "However, once Sonia's glaive was purchased, the group of them wished to visit the Troverian caravan and attend a… a charge blade demonstration."

"Ah."

"I had no desire to join them, so I departed to return to the manor."

Logan nodded, drawing his attention down to Ketrak and narrowing his eyes. "What wrong with you bug?"

The huntress groaned in exasperation, rubbing the brim of her nose. "While we were buying Sonia's glaive, a nearby hunting horn shop let a rookie test one of their display horns… one made from Velocidrome materials, which sounded exactly like the cries of a Drome. The sound panicked several pack animals, and a pair of Popos knocked over a cart selling nectars. Every free Kinsect within one hundred yards - including this greedy tub of lard - swarmed the cart to feed on the mess." Tuulikki scowled, holding Ketrak up. The Kinsect wiggled its legs a little and opened its wings, but the buzz was a low pitch and he barely even hovered. "He ate so much that he is too bloated to fly now. I will need to adjust his diet for a week or so just to get him back down to a respectable weight…"

"Huh." Logan said no more, and Tuulikki frowned uncomfortably.

"Are Vi and Leon around?"

"Nope. Saw a note on my door when I got back from the hospital. Leon and Vi's papa went down to the lake to go fishing, and Vi went with her mamma to some restaurant they like. Think they ain't gonna be back for a while, hey?"

"Oh. I see." More silence, save for the practiced grinding of the whetstone. "Do you want to… go get something to eat? Since we are, you know, the only ones here…"

The grinding stopped, and Logan tapped the small yellow stone against the flat of the blade, tilting his head in thought. He had to admit he was hungry, but at the same time… He glanced over at Tuulikki, but the huntress seemed to be adamantly keeping her focus on Ketrak, brushing her fingers across the creature's shell and pulling a contented clicking from the beast's mandibles.

Logan thought for a few moments more, mulling the simple request over, before standing up and pocketing his whetstone. "Eh, fine, girlie. Better than just sitting around, I guess."

"Oh," Tuulikki muttered, surprised that he'd agreed. "Oh, good. I will… Give me a moment. I will leave Ketrak in my room. There is no sense bringing him along in his condition."

"Ja, need to hang up my sword anyway," Logan replied. "We leave when you get back."

Two minutes later they walked out of the manor's courtyard, taking to the streets and heading northwards. Getting out into public hadn't changed much, however, and what little they talked to each other was stilted and uncomfortable, just as they'd been with each other for the last month or so. As the two of them walked down to the city's lower tier, Logan looked down at Tuulikki. The huntress was idly prattling on about something involving Kinsects, which seemed to be her go-to discussion topic when she didn't have anything else to talk about. He stared at her, studying her. He knew she was trying to improve their relationship with things like this, trying to make amends for how she'd treated them when they'd first met by being kind and polite. He knew she wasn't putting up a front either, that she was genuinely earnest; she was nothing if not honest.

That only made things harder, since he still couldn't bring himself to like her. He still hadn't forgiven her for the things she'd said… not yet.

But it was getting harder not to. A cold, merciless corner of his heart refused to allow her any leniency, and had things remained unchanged from after Sonia had gotten sick, maybe he'd still have that callous part of himself. But he couldn't pull that off anymore. After the other four had made their mad dash to Dundorma, leaving the two of them alone, things had changed…

---

A few weeks earlier…

---

"Here. I brought you dinner."

It took Logan a moment to register the words, looking up to find Tuulikki standing next to him. She was carrying a small plate of food, some kind of meat and vegetables. Logan didn't really think about it much further, idly taking the plate and placing it in his lap, poking at the meal with a small fork but not digging in.

He hadn't been doing well at all the last few days since Sonia had been diagnosed with Hellrot Fever. He didn't eat much. Sleep came in fits. His waking hours were spent with a cold, heavy weight in his chest as dread and worry chilled his blood. The last two villages they'd passed through had only made the feelings worse, when he'd received the letters from Bram only to open them and find that none of his worries had been assuaged or brought to closure, allowing the hollow apprehension in his heart to grow as he waited for news, good or bad.

The others in the caravan could see how poorly he was taking Sonia's sickness; he wasn't exactly making an effort to hide it. But they'd been generous to him. Even if he was one of the only two hunters officially guarding Stellazzio, they didn't ask much of him. Tuulikki was picking up a lot of slack, and the migrant hunters that were only joining them on the road to Dundorma were volunteering their services as well. He still did some work… but he was slow and absent-minded about it.

His lax attitude towards everyday work hadn't affected his hunting though. Mining ores and gathering herbs just gave him time to think, which was a struggle to deal with. However, when the caravan was threatened, he threw himself at monsters with a fervor. The rush of battle, the threat of pain and death, coordinating with Tuulikki and the other migrant hunters took up all his thoughts, allowing him to push aside his apprehension for at least a few minutes. Velocidromes, Seltas, Gypceros, anything worked, even an Azure Rathalos that had caught them by surprise once. That had kept him distracted for a good fifteen minutes before it had run off.

"Eat. You haven't had anything at all today, have you?"

Logan merely grunted in reply, absentmindedly stabbing a small chunk of meat with his fork and raising it to his mouth. He didn't even taste it, going through the motions of chewing and swallowing, repeating the process a few times… Soon enough, however, his melancholy set in once more, and he found himself doing little more than poking at the food and sliding it around the plate.

"Logan. Eat."

The hunter blinked, looking to the side. Tuulikki was sitting next to him, watching him closely. Had she been there the whole time?

"You eat," he replied lamely, pointing at her plate. At least half of her food was gone already though, a big difference compared to measly portion Logan had eaten.

Tuulikki didn't reply at first, but a few moments later her fork dropped onto her plate, and she set the food aside. Then she snatched Logan's plate and fork from out of his grip, setting them aside as well, before standing in front of him. Logan blinked as Tuulikki's hand wrapped around his, and the glaive wielder abruptly pulled him to his feet.

"Enough of this. Come with me."

"What…? Hoy, Bug Girl, I ain't-"

Tuulikki didn't listen, yanking him roughly towards the edge of the wagons and out into the trees. Logan made several half-hearted attempts to argue, but he just couldn't put any strength into his protests. They must have traveled about a couple hundred feet into the forest before Tuulikki came to a halt near a fallen tree. Looking back, Logan could just barely make out the dim glow of the campfire and torches back at the caravan. Close enough to find their way back, but far enough to do… something.

"Logan." The forest was dark. Though the moon was waning, very little light was filtering through the canopy above them. The huntress was staring up at him, an unfamiliar expression on her face. "Cry."

Logan stared at her. "...What? What is you talking about-"

"Cry," she said again. "Cry if you need to. If that will not make you feel better, then be angry. Rage. Scream. Break things. Vent your feelings until you feel better, no matter the method that requires, even if you have to aim your anger at me - mercy knows I've done enough to deserve it. Do what you must. None of the others will hear you all the way out here."

Logan sighed, taking a step back and leaning against a tree. "You don't… don't know what you talking 'bout, girlie. There ain't nothing wrong with-" He didn't bother to finish the sentence; the look on Tuulikki's face silenced him. "Hmph. Don't matter how I feeling right now, crying and screaming ain't gonna change nothing. Not like… not like Sonia's dead… dead yet or nothing. Just gotta push on through this, 'til-"

With a huff, Tuulikki stepped forward, grabbing his collar and shoving him down to sit on a twisted old root. Logan prepared to snap at her, but was caught off guard when she wrapped her arms around his head and pulled him into a hug.

"Don't try to pretend you're not sad," Tuulikki whispered. "Don't try to pretend you're not afraid or hurting. Don't bury your emotions and pretend like they shouldn't matter, or that you shouldn't be allowed to show them. You don't need to lie to yourself and to others."

"Oy, Bug Girl," Logan muttered, trying to push her away. "Knock it off, I ain't-"

"Someone you care about is sick. It's alright to worry about her. It's alright to be afraid of her dying."

"Hunters die all the time," Logan replied flatly. He'd stopped trying to repel her, and his arms were limp at his sides. "Is a risk of our jobs, hey? If you is always afraid of you allies dying-"

"I know that people in our occupation die all the time!" Tuulikki snapped. "I know that it's just as likely to return home in a coffin as it is to come home successful! I know that… I've had… people I love die while challenging monsters. I've watched coffins lowered into the earth that couldn't be opened due to the condition of the bodies! I've seen coffins that… that didn't have anything in them at all. I've prayed at tombstones that didn't sit above anything but dirt.

"But that doesn't mean it shouldn't hurt when they do, or be afraid that they might. Death is an inevitability, and even a high probability in our line of work, but that shouldn't lessen its impact. It shouldn't mean that we shrug off our pain and cheapen the life of someone we love just because a hunter's death is 'bound to happen' or because 'it was the risk they took'. It's not weakness to show your emotions, Logan. If you're afraid, then let yourself be afraid. If you're hurting, then don't try to suppress it. If you care about someone… don't try and hide it."

Logan was quiet for a moment longer before reaching his shaking hands around Tuulikki's back and hugging her tightly. What vestiges of emotional stoicism he'd tried to hold onto failed, and in seconds his face was buried into her shoulder and he sobbed away his grief and terrors. Tuulikki didn't say anything more after that, merely standing next to him and keeping him company until all the emotions he'd bottled up were let out…

---

Logan grimaced, shaking his head. He had to admit, he had been somewhat awkward around Tuulikki since that night (and by 'somewhat' he meant 'incredibly'). When he was around the others, he was fine. He was able to act with all the flippant humor he usually had. But when he was alone with her… it was a bit harder to pull off. He could never find it in himself to say more than a few words to her in response to her questions.

He was stuck. A part of him was grateful for what she'd done, what she'd said to him back on the road, what comfort and kindness she'd provided, despite their tenuous relationship… but even so there was still a bit of him that just couldn't like her. And he knew exactly why.

"Is there anywhere you would like to eat?" Tuulikki asked, her eyes darting across the shop signs in search of options.

"Don't care." The huntress grimaced in frustration at the simple dismissal, but didn't say anything. They continued to walk aimlessly, heading east until they reached a main thoroughfare and turned north. All the while, Tuli would point out places, and Logan would give half-hearted dismissals.

As they continued, Logan noted a poignant change in the atmosphere around them the further north they traveled. The buildings grew more roughshod, the civilians grew rougher, and things just felt a little less well-kept. They were entering 'Lowtown', he realized, the poorer section of the city. It wasn't as bad as he might've expected, honestly; if anything, it reminded him of the southern district back in Loc Lac, or the 'economy' houses he used to rent during his stints in Tanzia and Orage. It was a little rougher around the edges compared to the rest of Dundorma, but aside from that, it seemed fine to Logan.

Logan paused and blinked as something small and wet smacked against his cheek, and he looked up. Raindrops were falling from the sky, pattering around them on the cobblestone. A gust of cool wind came at them from the east, carrying a rushing noise along with it, and as the two hunters looked towards the wall of the city they could see a cascade of water pushing over the city towards them.

"Aw, hell," Logan groaned, grabbing Tuulikki's shoulder and yanking her towards the nearest building. "Time's up, Short Stuff, we eating here."

"Fine by me!" the huntress replied, pressing forward and diving under the awning. A few seconds later there a dull roar and a blast of humidity as the downpour crashed into the street behind them, soaking the road in an instant, and there were a couple shrieks and yelps from those that hadn't managed to get under something in time.

"Oh, wonderful." Logan turned at Tuulikki's sigh, and found her staring at the shop's name: Jethro's Grog House. "Well, this is a lovely choice."

"You wanna fight the rain instead, Short Stuff?" he replied, motioning over his shoulder.

"Ugh… fine. Let us see what this place has to offer," she muttered, pushing through the door as Logan followed in after her.

The inside was better than Logan expected. A long, dark entryway led into a brighter dining room. Old, weathered tables surrounded the room, lit by a well-maintained glowstone chandelier above. Everything else seemed rather aged and worn, however, including the staff: the man behind the bar was old, bald, and wrinkled, shuffling around and mixing drinks with his back hunched, his spectacles clinging to his head by a thin chain hanging around his neck. He seemed pretty experienced, though, sliding filled mugs and glasses down the bar with a level of skill that showed he'd been doing this for a long time. A serving girl, who was likely a relative due to a slight resemblance, looked at the two as they entered and just tilted her head towards the corner of the room, where an empty two-seat table was shoved against the wall; on one side was a small family, and on the other was a group of four large men that were stuffing themselves silly with stacks and stacks of food.

"See, this ain't that bad, eh girlie?" Logan said as they found their seats. "Can't always judge places by they name, hey?"

"I will maintain my skepticism, thank you," Tuulikki replied as she sat down, glancing over Logan's shoulder as one of the men at the next table started coughing up a storm; food down the wrong pipe by the sound of it. Her eyes flicked over to one of the nearby tables, where they were eating some kind of meat. She seemed to relax a little upon recognizing that it wasn't a Neopteron of some kind.

The two of them kept silent for the next few minutes until the waitress came to take their orders. Tuulikki tried to initiate conversations every now and then, but Logan gave little more than one-word replies. Their food came quickly enough, and Logan set out to eating what was on his plate. Tuulikki poked at her own meal as well, taking a few small bites, but didn't seem to be eating that eagerly.

"You gonna eat or what?" Logan muttered. "They something wrong with you meal?"

"No, my dinner is fine…" the huntress muttered. "It is just… What am I doing wrong?"

"Wrong with what? You dinner?"

"No, with you!" Tuulikki snapped. "Damn it, Logan, I am trying to be nice to you! I am trying to… make up for how cruel I was to you during your training. I am trying to make amends for telling you that you couldn't pass the exam, that you were lesser because you were Therian. I was wrong about everything, I know that. I have apologized for how I treated you, I am trying to be kind to you! Even if I cannot become your friend, I would like to know that I am at least on decent terms with you. After… after our talk in the Everwood, I just… What am I doing wrong?"

Logan stared quietly at the food on his plate for a long moment before tossing his fork down and sighing. "You wanna know why I been acting like this, girlie?" Tuulikki looked up and nodded fervently. "Is because when we first started training under you, you insulted my mother."

Tuulikki's expression was confused for a moment. "I… I didn't! I wouldn't have… Did I?"

Logan felt a flare of anger burn through him for a moment and his voice lowered to a growl. "First time I ever talked 'bout my mother, I said she was the one who trained me. First thing you said was that she must'a been a real bad hunter if I was the result of her training. Like it was her fault that I was as bad as you thought I was. Maybe you don't think much of things like that… but I ain't gonna take it, girlie."

Tuulikki's face was frozen for a long moment, and Logan could see her eyes glaze over as she searched her memory, before her eyes widened in shock and horror and she released a loud moan of self-loathing. Her food was abruptly shoved towards the edge of the table, and the huntress threw her hands forward, practically slamming her face into the wood of the table as she placed herself in a half-prostrated position, as best as she could manage while still sitting in the booth.

"I apologize!" she cried, her voice broken and pained, and Logan winced slightly; though her voice was muffled slightly by having her face pressed against the wooden, but it still echoed loud enough that a fair number of the other patrons in the bar heard the outburst, glancing over in concern. "I remember now… Oh, mercy, how could I be so cruel… I am so, so sorry, Logan!"

"Gah! Jeez, stop that, girlie!" Logan hissed, glancing around uncomfortably. Several others were giving them odd looks. "Damn it, Tuulikki, knock it off!"

"I can't…" the huntress moaned. "After saying such terrible things, I have to make amends…"

"Well you ain't gonna do it prostrating youself in the middle of a diner!" Logan growled, grabbing her shoulders and pushing her upright again. "You wanna make up for this, start by not trying to embarrass me, hey?"

Tuulikki did what she was told, slouching back into her seat, but her eyes remained downcast and miserable. A few nearby patrons gave them some concerned looks, but eventually social courtesy took control and they returned their attention to their own meals. Logan sighed as the waitress came by again, looking between the two uncomfortably as she asked if they needed anything. Logan sighed and pushed his plate towards her, half-eaten; he wasn't feeling that hungry anymore.

"Something to drink, girlie. Don't care what."

"Ah, yessir… and… for the lady?"

Tuulikki didn't reply, staring blankly into her hands. Eventually Logan spoke up again. "One for her too." He'd drink it if she didn't. He could use it. The waitress nodded quickly and darted off, eager to get away from the tense atmosphere.

"I'm sorry…" Tuulikki's words came out as a whisper, barely catching Logan's attention at first. "I'm so, so sorry…"

Logan didn't reply, leaning back into his seat and scowling out the window. Tuulikki continued to apologize, over and over like it was a mantra, even when the waitress came back with their drinks. Logan scowled as the young lady darted away to escape, before rapping his knuckle against the grain of the wood table, and motioning to the glass.

"Drink, girlie." Tuulikki nodded dimly, taking hold of her glass and slipping gingerly at the drink. The two of them were seeped in silence once more.

"I'm sorry…"

"Ja, got that the first hundred times or so, girlie."

"No… what I said was inexcusable. For someone like myself, who so reveres the love and teachings of my own mother, to so blithely write off someone else's connection to theirs for such banal and spiteful reasons… It is unforgivable." The huntress' head drooped further, until it thumped against the table again. "It is little wonder you hate me so much."

Logan groaned under his breath. "Ugh… hoy. Dammit, girlie, I don't hate you."

"Liar…"

"Ain't saying I like you, Short Stuff," Logan scoffed, "but I ain't saying I hate you either. You… you helped me out too much for me to just write you off like that…"

For a moment, Tuulikki didn't move, until finally her head raised again to stare at him. "Really?"

"Ja, ja… Normally I ain't the type to accept an apology so easy 'bout something like this, but… is hard to really brush off an apology like the ones you do, hey? Some folks just say they's sorry without putting they heart into it, pretending a few words is enough to earn forgiveness, but the way you do things… is hard not to believe you mean it, girlie." Logan leaned forward, jabbing a finger at her face. "I ain't saying that you is out of hot water yet, Short Stuff, but… figure I owe you this much after… after you helped me out back on the road."

Tuulikki nodded slowly. "It was only the words I wish someone would have told me at certain points in my own hunting career…"

"Right," Logan nodded. Words he could've used a few other times in his life as well…

Tuulikki paused, reaching for the mug in front of her and finally taking her first wary sip. "Your mother was the one who taught you how to hunt, then?"

"Ja… For the most part. She was always a bit busy with her work, but whenever she could, she was teaching me everything I need to know, hey?"

"I see… It is little wonder you held such vindictiveness for me when I said… when I said she…"

"Eh, don't push youself, girlie," Logan sighed. "They's more to it than that, though. It's… thing about her is, she's not my biological mother."

"You… you're adopted?"

"Ja… I is what they call a 'true Lost' back home: one of the ones what woke up from those pretty blue crystals, hey? The Alatreon shoved me and my… birth mother into one of 'em when I was little. Not really sure how old I was." Logan paused, staring down into the froth of his drink. He hadn't even taken a sip yet. "Don't really remember what happened after we 'woke up' but… Mamma said she found me out in the wilds crying over… my mother while she was dying. From a Bnahabra sting."

"A Bnahabra? Really? That's…"

"Sounds stupid, don't it? Killed by one of those bugs. Don't know for sure, but figure it was some kinda allergy. One sting only supposed to paralyze you for a bit, but for her… was like poison. Haven't really… cared much for insects since." Tuulikki only nodded slowly, rubbing her right forearm. "Don't even know her name. She never told Mamma what it was, just… begged her to take care of me. I can't even remember what she looks like… just know she died, and that Mamma took me in.

"Mamma was… It took me a while to warm up to her. 'ventually I really started to see her as my Mamma, but…" Logan paused, gathering his thoughts as he took a small drink. "But even when I was little I was thinking… thinking I really wanted to be her son. What you think if I told you I was all quiet and reserved-like when I was little?"

"I wouldn't believe you," Tuulikki replied flatly, and Logan laughed.

"Heh, is real surprising, hey? People think that kids can't pick up on stuff, that they is too young to understand the world. But kids see more than you'd think. Sometime I hear people talking 'bout us, and they was some people that always make sure to say that I was adopted when they talk about me. The way they say it, was like they thought it was a bad thing, like it made our relationship… lesser, because we wasn't blood related. I didn't… didn't like that. So I started talking like her, acting like her, saying I wanna be a hunter like her, hey? Trying to become a child someone could look at and say that I was definitely her son.

"That's why I gotta be as good a hunter as I can, hey? Mamma was… is a powerful person. If I is gonna be a hunter, if I is gonna say that she was the one that taught me all she know, that she's the one that made me the person I am today, then I sure as hell ain't gonna let nobody say that I ain't good enough without a fight. And even if they talking shit about me, I sure as hell ain't letting nobody talk bad 'bout her, hey?"

Tuulikki winced as the words, seeming to wither a bit where she sat. Logan sighed, tilting his head and leaning back against the seat cushions. "But that wasn't all. Once she was more… comfortable with me, she'd start talking 'bout Oswald… her late husband. She'd tell me stories 'bout they adventures together, the things they did when they was young… 'ventually, I started taking pieces of what she say and try to make him a part of me as well."

"What do you mean? Like what?"

"Like using the great sword."

"Really? But… then, what weapon would you have used otherwise?"

Logan shrugged. "Dunno. Never tried anything else. From the start, was gonna be the bowgun like Mamma used, or the great sword like Oswald. Can't shoot worth a damn though, so I picked up the great sword. Had to train my butt off to get strong enough to use the damn things." Tuulikki nodded, not saying anything and continuing to rub her forearm. Logan rolled his neck and let out a sheepish chuckle. "They was a few other things about him I tried to copy too. Guess you can blame my, eh, flirtatious habits on trying to act like him."

"You became a womanizer to emulate him?" Tuulikki asked flatly, and Logan chuckled.

"Eh, well… kinda. Mamma used to tell me he was real popular with the girlies, so I tried to be a ladies man. But 'parently he was so handsome and gentlemanly that he don't really gotta try, while I gotta work for it. Can't, uh, can't really complain 'bout the results, but…" Tuulikki rolled her eyes and Logan couldn't help but laugh. "It was… was worth it when she say I reminded her of him, though.

"That's why I got so fired up when you insulted her. She the greatest person I've ever known. Spent years trying to be like her, live up to the kinda person I see her as, and for anyone to snub her… I ain't gonna just brush that kinda thing off, hey?"

The two of them were quiet for a while after that. Logan idly trailed his finger around the brim of his mug, pulling a small hum from the glass. Tuulikki was the first to break the silence. "Does it make you happy?"

"Hmm? What you mean?"

"Emulating your mother, your… father. Trying to be an… amalgamation of what the two of them are, or were. Are you… happy, doing that?"

"Well… ja," Logan replied. "I mean… don't know what kinda guy I'd be if I didn't start mimicking her like I did, but I ain't unhappy with the way things is. Even if becoming a hunter and my weapon of choice wasn't something I decided completely on my own, I is still happy. Mamma's way of life is honest and direct. Ain't a bad way to live, hey?"

Tuulikki was silent, staring down at her lap and wringing her hand across her wrist. Logan sighed, raising his glass and downing the rest of the alcohol. It was pretty warm by now, but he didn't mind. "Guess this is some heavy stuff… I don't know, maybe this all sounds stupid from you perspective, girlie, some dumbass trying to emulate his Mamma just 'cause he was-"

"I don't remember my mother."

Logan paused at the words as they tumbled out of Tuulikki's mouth. The huntress' expression had grown tight, her hand clamped down around her wrist. "She died when I was six years old. Twenty years ago. She… saved me from being killed by a Tigrex. She died… fighting it off."

Logan nodded slowly. He'd heard the story before. He saw Tuulikki's hand drift up to her abdomen, brushing against her sternum. She'd said that there was a nasty scar across her chest from where the Tigrex had wounded her, before her mother had caught up and kept the wound from being fatal, at the cost of her own life.

"I've always admired her. I've heard… nothing but shining stories about her from my father and the older people in Lintukoto. People that knew her, people that loved her. Their stories of her exploits were my inspiration. I see depictions of her in the town hall in Lintukoto, stitched into those tapestries that depict her greatest moments, least of which was her battle against the Tigrex that… that I…" She paused, taking a deep breath. "I've always… tried to become like her. I became a hunter because of her, took up the glaive because of her, became a Purist because that's the kind of person she was. She's the summit I'm trying to reach, trying to match up to, trying to emulate.

"But as… as the years go by, I can't remember her face. I remember… I remember her playing with me when I was small, reading me stories, taking care of me and… nursing me when I was sick. But I can't recall her features. I used to be able to picture her in my head so clearly… her smile, her laugh, even the stern look she'd get when she was angry. But it's been so long, that my memory is… hazy. Sometimes I dream about her… but I don't see her face. Not her real one. Every time I fall asleep, she's made of cloth and string, like a puppet; all I can see is how she's depicted on those tapestries back home, but not her."

Logan nodded slowly. "So… what you trying to say? That you don't want to be like her? Don't wanna be a… a hunter, a glaive user… a Purist?"

"No, no, no, that's not it…" Tuulikki sighed, shaking her head. "I like being a huntress. I like using the glaive… and I love Ketrak. And I believe in the ideals of the Purists! I don't regret that, and I believe I'm following a good path, one that I choose to walk… But I… I don't know… I can't… I don't know how to put this…"

"Take you time."

Tuulikki groaned, burying her face in her hands and whimpering silently to herself for a couple minutes. Logan simply sat there, shooing the waitress away when she came by again and crossing his arms as he waited for… whatever Tuulikki was trying to find the words for. Finally she moved her hands, staring into the flame of the candle at the end of the table.

"I know my father, and I know who he really is… he raised me himself after my mother's death. I laughed with him, fought with him, disagreed with him. I know that he is a good and wise man, but I also know that he has his flaws, his weaknesses and vices. I know there are things he hides, things he doesn't want me to know about him… But not my mother. All these stories I hear, all the tales I've heard, the tapestries they've sewn in her image… they are her, but they aren't all of her. They're… photographs in a scrapbook, a fraction of the whole. I'm spoon-fed only her finest qualities, only the venerated memories of those people that loved her most, only the good things. But I can't argue with her, can't disagree with her, can't find her flaws!

"I'm trying to become someone I don't really know. She's not a person to me, just this… vague, spectral memory, whose only qualities I get from people who only tell me good things about her. How do I know I'm really living up to a vision that I can't even understand? I've built my entire life up around a person I don't even remember…"

The two of them sat in silence for several minutes. Logan didn't know how to respond, didn't even know where to start.

"I guess we're both kinda messed up, huh?" Logan muttered, and Tuulikki could only nod solemnly.

"Jumbled up copies of people we don't even know?"

"Thinking that's the way most people are, Short Stuff. Figure most folks take the bits and pieces of folks they like and try and make it part of theyselves. Figure most folks got someone they trying to emulate."

"Hmm… Yeah, maybe you're right…"

"...heh. That may just be the first time I've ever heard you say that."

"Oh." Tuulikki blinked a couple times, before shaking her head. A moment later her tone shifted to the familiar chiding tone he'd grown to associate her with. "Well, statistically it had to happen sooner or later. Even the greatest of fools have to be correct once in a while. A stopped clock and all that."

"Ha! But you still said I was right. And here I is without a witness to prove it…"

"And you'll never be able to make me admit it to the others."

"Maybe not… but I still get the pleasure of being smug about it, hey?" Logan smirked, and Tuli groaned in dismay.

"I immediately regret this entire night…" she moaned, and Logan laughed. For a moment she looked nervously at him, before focusing back down to the table. "Logan, I… Thanks for listening. I know we're not on the best of terms, but-"

"Eh, don't worry 'bout it, girlie. Was nice to get some stuff off my chest, too."

"I suppose if nothing else, you've given me a reason to try and put up with your ridiculous accent."

Logan stared at her for a moment before smirking. "Aw, is you getting fond of the way I speak, Short Stuff?"

"...Possibly. If nothing else, I find it fitting: you might as well sound as ridiculous as you act. It certainly suits you."

"Heh. You think you know me, girlie."

"I think I'm beginning to… much to my chagrin."

"Ja, well, ain't too happy that I is figuring you out either, girlie."

Logan tossed a small pile of zenny onto the table, and the two of them began weaving their way towards the exit to the building. As they approached the entryway, Logan saw the waitress that had been serving them standing near the entryway, with another of the patrons talking eagerly to her, but as they neared, Logan realized that the waitress' posture was stiff and defensive. Her eyes were poignantly trying to look anywhere but the man's face, and as Logan took a moment to study the man himself, he could see that his balance was tilting a little bit, and his eyes were a touch hazy.

The hunter grimaced; he'd seen this a thousand times before. He sighed, patting Tuli on the shoulder. "Hoy, gimme a second girlie."

The huntress didn't reply, merely raising an eyebrow as Logan turned to approach the man. As he neared, he picked up on what the man was saying. "-just gotta give a chance, little missy. I mean, just one date doesn't sound too bad doesn't it? C'mon, I promise it'll be-"

Logan stepped up behind the man, reaching up and tapping his shoulder. The waitress looked up in surprise and slight relief as the man turned in confusion. "Hoy, buddy, leave the girlie 'lone, hey? Pretty clear she don't wanna talk with you."

"Ah, shut up, kid, you don't know what'cha talking 'bout," the man griped, glaring at him. The slur in his voice was enough to display that he'd probably had a few too many, and the smell didn't help.

"You don't have to worry about me," the girl sighed, but there was a slightly thankful expression in her eyes.

"Ja, well, might as well do it anyway," Logan muttered back, before wrapping an arm around the man's shoulder. "C'mon, buddy, why don't you get a little fresh air, hey?"

"Hey! I'm fine!" the man argued, trying to shake off Logan's arm, but the hunter held firm.

"Really? Then how many fingers is I holding up?" Logan asked, holding up four.

"It's, uh… four."

"Nah, buddy, is only two," he replied, pulling his hand away. "Thinking you had a few too many, hey?"

"What? No, there was… there was four."

"You sure? I mean, I'm the sober one here, and I is thinking you had a few."

"I mean… I'm pretty sure…"

"Well, maybe you go outside and clear you head up, get some fresh air while you figure it out. You ain't gonna be impressing nobody if you pass out in the entryway, hey?"

"Um… yeah… Yeah, maybe."

"Right, thinking they's a bench with you name on it, buddy," Logan said, turning to wink at the waitress. She nodded gratefully, before turning to get back to work. With a stern tug, Logan pulled the man into the entry hall, leading him towards the door.

"That was rather well done," Tuli muttered, catching up to him from behind.

"Mamma's a bartender," Logan whispered back. "You pick these things up. Let's get this guy some fresh air."

"I can… I can walk by myself!" the drunk snapped, trying to shake Logan's hand off of his shoulder.

"Eh, ja, ja, sure you can. But I just gonna hang on until we is-"

A burst of pain shot through Logan's face as the man abruptly twisted around and elbowed him in the jaw. Logan tumbled back, nearly crashing into Tuli before catching himself. He rubbed his sore jaw and glared at the drunk in agitation; the man himself was rubbing his arm and muttering something under his breath as he leaned against the wall.

"So that's how it's gonna be, hey? Fine," Logan growled, stepping forward. He heard Tuli try and say something behind him, but without waiting he stepped forward and punched the man in the jaw, knocking him to the floor. "Hoy! What, so you ain't so tough when you not catching a guy off guard? Why don't you-"

"Logan, wait!" Tuli yelled.

"Not now, girlie."

"Logan! Logan, stop!" the huntress snapped, grabbing his arm and forcing him to face her.

"What? Why?! This guy just-"

"It was an accident!"

"It… what?"

"He tripped over his own feet!" Tuli hissed. "His elbow hit you while he was flailing!"

"Oh… really?" Logan muttered, looking back to the man as he staggered to his feet. It looked as though Logan's punch had sobered the man up a little, and he was glaring daggers. The hunter grinned sheepishly, opening his hands. "Eh… whoops. Sorry 'bout that, buddy. Didn't mean to-"

"You son of a bitch!" the man roared. He took a wild swing at Logan's head, forcing the hunter to duck out of the way, grabbing the man's arm and throwing him through the entryway into the dining room. A few surprised gasps echoed through back into the hall as the man slid across the floor, but he was scrambling back to his feet already.

"Look, pal, I-" Logan didn't finish what he was saying; as he looked up across the room, he realized that, at the sound of the man's shout, three other men at the far side of the room had stood up simultaneously to see what was going on. Logan winced, pulling back into the entryway and out of sight, but as the man pushed to his feet he turned to look at the men across the room.

"This guy's picking a fight!" he bellowed. "We gotta show him-"

Logan didn't catch whatever the man thought Logan needed to be shown, because as soon as the man had turned to look at the other three, he'd grabbed Tuli's arm and yanked both of them out the door. "Time to leave, girlie!"

"You! Are! Such! An! Idiot!" Tuli gasped in exasperation as the two of them bolted down the street. The door to the restaurant slammed open behind them, followed by several angry shouts. Logan yanked Tuli into the nearest alley, darting through the darkness towards the next street. "This is what you get for picking a fight with him!"

"Thought he swung first! And didn't know he had friends!" Logan snapped back as the two of them slid out into another main street.

He looked around desperately as the sound of overturned trash cans and shouting echoed through the alley behind him, before Tuli yanked him to the right and into a small crowd of people standing in line outside a bar, forcing them to slow down a little to try and blend in. Slipping through the crowd, Logan glanced back to spot the cluster of men burst from alley and look around frantically, shouting at each other. Tuli kept moving forward, however, moving a little slower to make it look like they weren't running before dragging him into a small side street between the bar and a smithy that was closing up shop. Waves of heat enveloped the two of them as they slid through the narrow area, before Logan spotted a small yard with a tunnel through the buildings on the far side. The two of them crossed through, finding themselves in a small walkway with wooden doors on each side and a sharp right turn up ahead. Coming up to the corner, Logan glanced around the side, finding another street ahead of them.

"Hold on," Tuli whispered, looking behind them. The pair of them paused, listening carefully, but the sounds of footsteps and shouting were gone, faded into the regular noise of the city. "I think we lost them."

"Whew, that's a relief," Logan sighed. "Close one, hey?"

"No thanks to you."

"Hokay, hokay, mistakes were made. Don't need to rub it in, Short Stuff. Was trying to do that without causing trouble, hey?"

"Yes, yes, I know it was an accident," Tuli replied, striding towards the street. "I know you were merely trying to help that waitress out."

"Hope she appreciated all that," Logan muttered. A moment of thought later, he smirked wickedly. "Maybe she be grateful I got that guy out of her face, hey? Give me the date she wasn't giving up for him?"

"Please stop…" Tuulikki groaned. "If you're going to talk about that kind of thing, could you spare me from having to listen? I have no desire to hear of every little detail of your nightly ventures."

"Heh, shame, girlie. I got a lotta good stories that make tonight seem tame."

"These kind of nights are common occurrences for you?" Tuli asked, and Logan grinned.

"Eh, ain't the first time I gotta run away from a bar fight, hey? Least I wasn't drunk this time, or I might be doing the running with 'bout half this much clothes on."

"Ugh… Thank for that mental imagery…" the huntress groaned, shaking her head.

"What can I say? I always feel a bit… warm when I is drunk. Gotta cool off somehow."

"Lovely," she replied flatly. "If I ever spend a night like tonight with you again, remind me to wear my full Rathian armor for the evening. It seems like I'd need it."

Logan laughed. "I remember that, hey? But the night is still young, Short Stuff. Let's go find something else to do."

"Really? Honestly, I'm already exhausted…"

"C'mon, ain't they any restaurants you wanted to go to, or things you wanna see in this town? They's gotta be someplace you always side-eyed when you walking past. Someplace you was too embarrassed to ask you buddies to go with you into? You don't gotta worry 'bout those kinda scruples with me, hey?"

"Obviously not. Though, I suppose there is a food stall I saw-"

"Found you!"

Logan froze in shock. As he and Tuulikki had stepped onto the street, they'd nearly run head-first into the man Logan had punched back at the restaurant. Before either of them could react, the man slammed his forearm into Logan's neck, forcing him back into the alley several yards before twisting and shoving him against the nearby wall. A shriek and a string of venomous curses echoed through the alley as another of the men roughly grabbed Tuulikki, yanking her into the side street as well before managing to cover her mouth to blot out the noise. The other two men fanned out, one of them keeping near the entrance to the main road while the other made his way a few yards down the alley.

"So, thought you could get away, huh?" the man holding him growled. "Gonna teach you a lesson 'bout slugging people that ain't done you no wrong, boy!"

"Hey, you sure about this, man?" the man at the end of the alley asked nervously.

"Quit your bellyaching! I told you I was gonna get this guy back, I don't care who he is!"

"Yeah, but if he talks like that, then he's one of the old girl's boys, and if she finds out about this, she won't let it slide… I already got problems with Boris, I don't need problems with the rest of them!"

Logan glanced over at the man talking. 'If he talks like that'? Did they mean his accent? Who was the 'old girl'?

"Shut it!" the man holding Logan snapped. "One of her boys needs to learn a lesson, I'll teach it to him! Y'hear that? Your old lady ain't here to help you right now, and neither is anyone else in your family."

"What the hell you talking 'bout?" Logan growled. "What old lady? What family?"

"Oh, don't play dumb with me, brat! You and the rest of your Kin think you're big and bad, but you ain't invincible-"

Logan tuned the man's words out a little, glancing around the alley as he blathered on about… whoever he was associating Logan with; he'd think about that later. For now he needed to get himself and Tuli out of this situation. The man in front of him was easy: he was still pretty drunk, and Logan's hands were free, so all he'd really need to do was introduce his nose to Logan's knee. The two standing guard were far enough away that he could get the first one down before they could react, but the problem was the man holding Tuli. Logan didn't want to involve someone else in a fight he'd started, but the look in her eyes showed that she was ready to throttle the man. Logan wasn't sure how much hand-to-hand combat experience the huntress had, so he'd have to make sure she could hold her own before-

Logan's thoughts ground to a halt as the man shoved his arm harder against Logan's throat, forcing him to return his attention to him. He was still rambling on the same as before. "-and it doesn't matter how tough your grandma is, I ain't gonna let one of her brats strong-arm people! I ain't afraid of her! I ain't afraid of you, or Boris, any of you Kin! So you'd best brace yourself for an ass-kicking, boyo, 'cause I'm gonna-"

"Hey! Oh, shi-" Whump.

A strangled cry echoed through the alley as the man standing guard near the street sailed through the air, flying backwards several yards and crashing into the man further down the alley. Both men collapsed to the ground in a tangled mess, the thrown man clutching his gut and wheezing in pain. The man holding Logan stared at them for a moment before turning to face the street, and his eyes bulged in shock.

Logan followed his gaze and shared the same reaction. A man stood at the entrance to the alley… and he was enormous. Over seven feet tall and a wall of muscle, the man towered over everyone and was broad enough to fill almost the whole alley, blotting out the light from the street. Thinning brown hair was slicked back atop his head, and rough stubble decorated a stony jaw. A crooked grin creased across his face through half a dozen scars as he glared down at the people in the alley, scanning each person for a moment before landing on Logan, at which point his grin split into a broad and toothy smile, more like he was baring his fangs than anything else.

"B-B-Boris…"

The massive man's gaze snapped to the man holding Logan as the name tumbled out of his mouth, and his gaze narrowed. The man gasped slightly, releasing Logan and stumbling back slightly, allowing the hunter to tumble to the ground, coughing as he rubbed his throat. The giant took a single step forward, his smile seeming to grow more feral.

"So… hyu isn't afraid of me? Of us?" The man, Boris, let out a dark chuckle. "Tinkink Hy gonna hef to fix dot, hey?"

Logan turned, staring at the man in shock. Had he just…?

A clattering pulled his attention towards the dark end of the alley, just in time to spot the two men that had been that way sprinting around a corner and vanishing from sight. A moment of silence followed which was broken by Tuli letting out a yelp as the man holding her abruptly shoved her to the ground, turning to dart after his friends and leaving behind only the man that had been threatening Logan. The man held his ground just long enough for Boris to take another step closer before his courage failed him as well, and he turned and fled after his friends. A deep laugh rolled through the alley as Boris chuckled at the sight, before returning his sharp gaze down to Logan as the hunter pushed back to his feet.

Logan glanced over to Tuli, finding the huntress standing up as well. Her gaze was darting between Logan and the massive man, a wary look of concern on her face, but he subtly shook his head, showing that he was just as confused by this turn of events as she was. Logan tensed as Boris stepped towards him, the twisted smile still creased across his face.

"Who the hell is you supposed to-"

Before Logan could finish, Boris' right hand snapped forward, grabbing Logan's wrist with a massive hand and yanking him into the air until his toes were barely grazing the ground. Tuli shouted and shot forward, twisting her body around to aim a kick at the man's gut. However, the man caught Tuli's leg in mid air, stopping it with almost no effort and yanking the huntress upside down by the ankle.

"Now dat vasn't real nice, vas it, girlie?" he growled. "Hy ain't even introduced myself yet und hyu already svinging?"

"Hoy, what's the big idea?!" Logan snapped, swinging his boots up to kick the man in the chest. The blow barely made the man flinch, however, and Boris scoffed, swinging Logan sideways and slamming him into the brick wall, rattling him for a moment.

"Ho, und de boyo ain't much betta! Hy iz tinkink hyu iz schtill a liddle touchy from hyu run in vith Horace und his boys. But Hy iz nice. Hy onderstund hyu iz a liddle fired up. So vy don't hyu calm down so ve can hef a nice talk… hey?"

Logan winced under the man's dark glare. "I don't… what's going on? Why is you-"

"Hoy, de boy sure schpeaks funny, don't he, brodder?" Logan turned as a shorter man appeared from behind Boris ('shorter' when compared to the large man, which wasn't saying much; he had at least a couple inches on Logan). He had a devious expression and a razor-sharp smirk. "Real familiar tough. Tink Hy heard an accent like it before, ja?"

"Tink ve have," Boris agreed.

"Let go of me!" Tuli snapped, kicking at the man's arm, but he seemed unperturbed, giving the huntress a mildly annoyed expression. Almost nonchalantly the man tossed her in the air, making her gasp in shock, but before she could hit the ground, yet another man appeared, this one broad and heavyset, catching her out of the air and placing her gently on the ground. He kept a firm grip on her arms, however, pinning them to her side and not allowing her to pull away from him.

"Easy dere, girlie. No need for a fuss. Ve chust gonna hef a liddle talk vith hyu boy here."

Tuli turned and glared sharply at him. "So… there is no need for you to keep me here."

The man raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Heh, schmot gurl. Not really, no… But ve don't vant henny interruptions, hey? Interruptions hyu might go und find. So tinkink maybe ve chust keep hyu here."

"Hoy, you leave her outta this!" Logan growled.

The man holding onto Tuli smirked. "Aw, ain't dat nice uf hyu? But Hy iz tinkink hyu got odder tings to vorry 'bout, boyo… like vhy hyu got de same accent as us?"

"Aha. Dat iz a very goot qvestion, hey?" Boris grinned wickedly. "Dey ain't nobody in dis country dat talk like us, 'less dey's vun of de Kin… und hyu ain't vun, so how come hyu talk like ve do? Hy iz tinkink dey's zum goot answers for such goot qvestions… But Hy iz also tinkink dat maybe ve ain't de only vuns vanna hear dose answers."

"Ho, hyu is right, brodder," the shorter man smirked. "Maybe Mamma vanna hear de answers too. She gonna be interested in hearink vhy zum random liddle boyo talkink like he is."

"Now, dere's an idea."

The man released Logan's fist, and he nearly toppled to the ground in surprise, but was caught by the smaller man, who quickly wrapped his arm around Logan's shoulder, pulling him in. Logan would've tried to jerk away, but a gleam of silver in the man's other hand showed that he had somehow pulled a long, curved dagger out from somewhere on his body, and he was twirling it nonchalantly between his fingers. Finally the dagger stopped spinning, with the point aimed at Logan's face.

"Now, now, boyo, Hy know Mamma's gonna vanna meet hyu, und it ain't polite to keep a lady vaitink, hey?"

Logan stared at the point of the blade, weighing his options… but the options were few, and he knew the good ones weren't likely to work, not without him or Tuli getting badly hurt. He nodded slowly. "Who's 'Mamma'?"

"Mamma Titania," Boris replied, grabbing both Logan and Tuli and pulling them towards him, hanging his heavy arms around their shoulders and pulling them out of the alley and down the road. "Vould tell hyu 'bout her, but… maybe iz betta for hyu to meet her hyuself, hey? She expectink hyu."

Boris kept a tight grip on them, leaving little room for them to maneuver as he marched them through the narrow roads and dark alleys. They received a few odd looks from passersby, but a dark glare from the men leading them dissuaded anyone from staring too long. Whoever these men were, the people in Lowtown knew it was better not to interfere, no matter how the situation looked.

They didn't travel far. It only took a few minutes to reach their destination, as the three men marched them up to the doors of an aged stone structure. The building was surprisingly tall, almost two or three times taller than the other single-story buildings nearby, with towering doors and windows to match. It looked one or two centuries old, but probably hadn't been built with the intent to survive for so long, yet work had been done to strengthen the wear in the walls and keep the structure standing. Several other damage marks coated the wall as well, those that were less likely to be the result of age: small pockmarks had been broken out of several brick, and dozens of scorch marks littered the front wall. One of the windows was busted out and boarded up, and some of the boards looked like they'd been there a while. Logan could already hear an obnoxious amount of noise coming from within.

An aged metal plaque was imbedded into the wall near the front door, simply wrought with minimal decoration, and only reading "Mamma Titania's".

"This the place, kid," Boris chuckled, leaning in close to Logan. "Welcome home, boyo."

With a shove, the man pushed the two of them through the door and inside. The first room was a simple entryway, though very wide and tall, with wooden walls and a bouncer glancing at them from under a wide-brimmed hat. Boris patted Logan's shoulder roughly, and the bouncer nodded, tilting his head towards the entry to a larger room ahead.

Logan knew it was a bar before he even entered, hearing the ruckus from within even as they'd entered the building, and the lingering smell of spilt alcohol in the air. Small round tables, wooden chairs and stools… everything looked new, but in a bar like this Logan knew that was a sign for how rough this place could be: safe bars had old furniture that had been in use for a while, while dangerous ones had everything regularly replaced.

He didn't have time to appreciate the room further, however, as a gasp from Tuli dragged his attention to the far end of the room, and his eyes bulged in shock. There, sitting upon the upraised platform, was a veritable giant of a woman! Logan was used to tall women; his own mother was over a full head taller than him. But even sitting down, Logan could tell that the woman on the stage had to stand at least twelve feet tall upright, perhaps more. Her body wasn't unshapely or distorted either, and were it not for her incredible size, she would look no different than any other person. The explanation came quickly as Logan caught sight of her ears, long and pointed, as well as her three-pronged, taloned feet: the woman was Wyverian. Logan may have been left completely flabbergasted had he not already seen His Immenseness in person, but even so the woman's bulk was stunning.

The woman appeared to be wearing some sort of formal outfit, red robes which Logan had seen in places like Yukumo (what were they called… yakutas?), though hers was worn loosely, in a borderline slovenly manner, showing off the woman's legs and ample cleavage. The woman's pale body was built strongly, and covered in a fair number of scars, likely from being a hunter. His eyes flicked upwards for a moment, and he caught sight of a sword and shield hanging on the wall over the stage, but upon closer inspection, he realized that it was no simple sword and shield: rather it was a great sword and a lancer's tower shield! Both were made from bright red materials; the shield was relatively undecorated, though golden lines stretched out from the base to the edges like rays of sunlight, and the great sword was broad and rectangular, flattened out at the end with several notches carved into the point. Mounted together like they were, to be displayed like a sword and shield… those had to be the woman's true weapons, massive though they were.

Her hair was jet black, long and silky, with a few thin streaks of silver shooting through it. It trailed down her back freely, dropping so far as to lie beside her on the floor, likely making it as long as she was tall. Her face was narrow and smooth, and she likely would have been considered a rare beauty were in not for the two prominent scars which dropped over each eye and down to the middle of her cheeks, as well as the fierce expression on her face. There was also a large cane next to her, and though Logan wasn't certain whether she needed it to walk, he figured it had other uses, judging by the sharp angles of the handle, and the thick metal it was made from. In one hand, she carried a wide porcelain saucer larger than most shields, empty now but likely formerly filled with alcohol, judging from the uncorked jug next to her.

The woman was speaking to a man at the base of her stage, but as Logan and Tuli were dragged her way, her dark red eyes snapped to them, focused and sharp as they bored into the pair. She cocked her head slightly as they were marched right up to the edge of the stage, leaning forward and looming over the two hunters menacingly. After a few moments of silence, the edges of her lips curled up in a devious smile. Logan wasn't even surprised to find that several of her front teeth were more pointed than normal, giving her what appeared to be a collection of fangs.

"So… dis is dem, hey?" she asked, glancing at Boris, whose grip on the great sword user's shoulder had never faltered. Her voice was dark, and smooth like velvet, holding not a little hint of menace in them. She had the same accent as Logan, the same accent as the three men that had cornered them in the alley.

"That's right," the man replied.

The woman turned back to them, studying them intently. Or rather, studying Logan intently. Her eyes seemed to be scanning every little detail about him, and she seemed frustrated by what she saw. Then she leaned forward.

"So, I is told you was talking like us earlier, hey?"

Logan glanced around nervously; the room had gotten quieter as he and Tuli had been marched to the front of the room. Most of those around him wore curious expressions, but a few looked excited, while others had a more… bloodthirsty look on their faces.

"Ja…" Logan replied quietly, looking around. One of Titania's eyebrows rose slightly, as the edge of her lips coiled into a twisted smile.

"Ho ho. Looks like my boys was right, hey?" As Logan looked around nervously, something swung at his face, and he flinched back as the base of the woman's cane was suddenly an inch from his throat. The tip of the cane rolled under his chin, lifting it up so his eyes were forced to meet hers. "Pay attention, darling. Tell me why you talking like us, and maybe I don't show you how hard I can swing this cane, hey?"

"My… I… I was just… just raised to talk like this."

"Ho, really?" the woman purred. The Wyverian furrowed her brows and rubbed her chin in thought. After a few moments of consideration, she seemed to have a sudden realization, and she turned on Logan again. "You don't say… Thinking maybe we skipped a few steps at the start. What you name, darling?"

"Uh… Logan."

"You full name."

"It's… Logan Sturmtrum."

The woman's lips peeled back, splitting into a wide and… slightly maniacal-looking grin. "Sturmtrum? Really? Then would that make you the son of Lynn Sturmtrum?"

"What?" Logan gasped. "You… you know my Mamma?"

The woman leaned back, leering at Logan as she released a dark chuckle and looked around the room. "Oh, yes… We certainly remember Lynn, don't we?"

"We sure do," one of the men nearby growled, roughly slamming his palm into Logan's shoulder and giving him a sinister smile. He was short and stout, but looked like he could wrestle a Congalala to the ground. "Remember her real good… That woman broke my arm the last time I saw her."

"She dislocated my jaw!" another man shouted.

"Gave me a concussion," a short woman with countless scars on her arms growled.

"See? We know you mamma very well, hey?" Titania smirked. "Lotta my boys and girls here got some memories 'bout the last time we saw her. In fact… thinking a lot of them wanna share those memories with you, darling."

"That's right!" the stout man from before growled. With a tug he yanked Logan out of Boris' grip, holding the great sword user out in front of him and pulling his other arm back into a fist. "Smile, pretty boy! Here's something I owe your mother!"

However, before the man could throw a punch, a wooden mug wrapped in iron hoops crashed into the side of the man's face, stunning him and making him unclench his fist to rub the side of his face and wipe off the booze. Logan reached up and tore the man's hand from his collar before pulling back and kicking him in the chest, throwing him back and knocking over a table, sending plates and mugs clattering to the ground. He turned towards where the flying mug had come from and spotted Tuli with her arm outstretched, having somehow managed to wrench herself free from Boris' grip and grab a mug from a nearby table.

He also saw an entire barroom full of men and women with battle-thirsty grins covering their faces.

"Looks like the girlie wants to join the fun!" Titania cackled. "Come on, boys, let's welcome them both properly!"

Every voice in the room roared their approval, and in a flash Logan found three of the bar-goers lunging towards him, fists raised and with maniacal looks on their faces. His eyes darted towards Tuli, who had several others converging on her, but he was forced to focus on his own assailants as the closest came at him with a wide haymaker punch, and Logan raised his left arm to block, cringing as the fist clipped his cast and sent a small lance of pain up his arm; how was he supposed to fight back properly with a healing arm? He was caught off guard, however, when the man's next swing changed trajectory, dropping and striking him in the gut, sending him sliding backwards into the edge of the stage. He could hear Titania chuckling behind him as the men approaching him grinned maniacally, closing in on all sides.

The man on his left charged in, swinging another haymaker, and Logan ducked under the blow and stepped around the man, before spinning around and jamming his elbow into the man's side and slamming him into the stage. As the man groaned in pain, Logan grabbed him by the hem of his coat and kicked his ankle out from under him, and as he feet fell the greatsword user hurled him sideways and into the man on the right, sending both to the ground in a heap.

As he turned to face the third man, however, the man's fist smashed into his jaw, making stars explode in his eyes. The man grabbed his shoulder, yanking him in for and slamming his fist into Logan's side with a sneer. "Come on, kid, this the best you got? Gonna have to do better than that!"

The grip on Logan's shoulder shoved down, bending Logan over as the other arm wrapped around his waist. With a roar, the man spun Logan upside down, hurling him away from the stage and towards the nearest wall, where he crashed to the floor and smashed through a collection of chairs and into the base of one of the tables, sending a rain of half-eaten plates and silverware clattering to the floor. Logan shook his head to chase off the dizziness to find the man sliding around to table and reaching for Logan's shirt.

Logan snarled and kicked at the man's ankle, and the man cursed as he dropped down to one knee. It was close enough for Logan to reach, and he grabbed a handful of the man's greasy hair and yanked down, smashing his face against the stone floor. The man howled as he pushed himself up, blood streaming from a probably-broken nose and split lip, and Logan finished up by kicking him in the jaw and throwing him onto his back.

A pair of strong arms slid under his own before he could push to his feet, and Logan yelped in pain as another bruiser hoisted him up and locked his arms with a full nelson. The hunter struggled to pull free, but his captor was much stronger than him. From Logan's front, a sinister-looking woman with countless scars notching her face and arms marched forward and jabbed him in the gut, followed by a slug across the face. Logan groaned, tasting the coppery flavor of blood on his tongue.

"Come on, brat! Whatcha gonna do now?"

"Urk… how 'bout this?" Logan growled, yanking both feet into the air and pulling his knees against his chest. The man holding him grunted in surprise at the sudden weight increase, but held firm, allowing Logan to point the soles of his boots at the woman's face.

"Ah. Nice," the woman muttered, before Logan kicked both legs out, slamming them into her face and hurling her backwards into the crowd.

The man holding Logan teetered a bit as Logan's legs swung back down to the ground, but his grapple still held. Logan pulled his leg back, sliding his foot between the man's legs and hooking his ankle behind the man's heel. With a sharp kick, Logan forced the man's leg out from under him and pushed backwards, sending them both falling back. The man yelped, releasing Logan's arms to catch himself, but Logan used his new freedom and momentum to pull back his elbow, and as the two of them hit the ground, Logan slammed his elbow straight into the man's sternum. The man wheezed, clutching his chest and rolling onto his side. Logan pushed onto his feet and reached down, grabbing the man by the lapels and pulling him up so that they were face-to-face.

"Mamma always said I shouldn't break stuff in a bar…" Logan growled. "Figure she'd approve here though, hey?"

The man sputtered out a confused "What?" before Logan roared, hoisting him into the air and hurling him across the bar, crashing into one of the tables and splintering at the base, throwing the mugs and bottles that had been atop it smashing to the floor. A shout and footsteps from behind gave him enough warning of another attack, and he dodged to the side as a large, bulky woman whiffed her punch. Logan reached towards the nearest table, grabbing the neck of a bottle and shattering it against the woman's skull. To his shock, however, the woman seemed unfazed, whirling around and slugging him with an uppercut that lifted him off his feet and back onto the seat of one of the booths.

Logan was dazed for a moment before spotting the woman reaching for his legs. He swung his arm up onto the tabletop, feeling around for anything he could use until his hand grabbed one of the shakers. He pulled it back - the pepper shaker, apparently - and fumbled with the cap using the fingers poking through his cast as she grabbed him by the ankles. The woman pulled as the cap popped free, and Logan swung his arm, throwing a cloud of pepper into the woman's face, sending her backwards, coughing and rubbing her eyes.

Logan hopped back to his feet, bracing himself for more attackers, when his gaze landed on Tuli. The huntress was standing on one of the nearby tables, kicking sharply at a pair of men that were trying to grab her and pull her down. With a growl, Logan lunged at the woman that had been hit with pepper and slammed his shoulder into her chest. The woman was so sturdy that he barely managed to budge her but the surprise of the hit made her stumble, and Logan was able to shove her backwards across the barroom floor as she tried to keep from falling over. One of the men harassing Tuli turned in surprise a moment before Logan slammed the woman into him, throwing both of them to the floor, and when the other one turned in anger, Tuli took the chance to leap off the table and catch him with a guillotine kick to the shoulder, flooring him almost instantly.

"You okay, girlie?" Logan asked.

"So far, I- duck!"

Logan dropped his head as Tuli knelt, grabbing a half-eaten plate of food from the table and hurling it over Logan's head. There was a splat and a yelp, and Logan turned to find another man wiping some kind of sauce of his face. Logan growled under his breath, grabbing the man by the shoulder and punching him in the nose, knocking him back into another cluster of bar-goers right behind him.

As the man was pulled into the crowd, however, he was only replaced by more men and women looking just as crazed as him. Logan stepped backwards fearfully under a sea of slasher smiles and wild eyes. He'd taken down… what, five or six, maybe more? He hadn't been counting, and who knew if anyone of them were going to stay down, but even if Tuli had managed to take down just as many, or even two or three times as much, it was just a single mug poured out of the barrel. There were maybe another fifty or sixty hoodlums in the room alone, and that was only the ones he could see. And Titania herself… she hadn't even budged, and was leaning back and watching like it was all just a show. Logan and Tuli found themselves side-by-side and backing into a corner as a small horde of lunatics pressed towards them.

"We're in trouble," the huntress stated simply.

"I can see that, Short Stuff."

"Can we get to the door?" Tuli muttered. There was a roar from the side as a man charged them from the side, and the huntress cursed and pushed Logan back a step, grabbing the back of a nearby chair and hurling it across the ground towards his legs. He yelped in shock as his feet were knocked out from under him, and Logan stepped forward to kick him in the side.

"Don't think so, girlie," Logan growled. "They's about twenty of them between here and there."

"Backdoors?"

"Dunno if they is one. Maybe we just pin ourselves in deeper."

"Windows?"

"They boarded up… and if they wasn't we just gonna get sliced up trying. People jumping through windows without armor don't come out the other side so pretty, hey?"

All of a sudden the crowd before them seemed to part, and Logan could see Boris approaching them. The man was rolling his shoulder and looking just as eager for a fight as any of the others, but aside from Titania herself, he was far bigger and far more dangerous-looking than anyone else in the room, and just the thought of fighting the man sent a chill down Logan's spine.

"Hoy, girlie," Logan muttered, glancing her way. She'd paled slightly at the sight of Boris' approach. "You really good and jumping, right?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Got an idea, hey? We make for the door, you right behind me, then when I hit 'em, you jump off my shoulders over the lot of 'em. If you quick you can get to the door before any of 'em grab you."

"That… But what about you?"

Logan shrugged. "I is tough. Probably could last long enough for you to find one of the guard, hey?"

"What?! But they could-"

"Thinking whatever they gonna do to me gonna be the same whether you here or not, girlie. Might as well get you outta here while you can. Ain't no sense in both of us getting our butts kicked, hey?"

"I don't… That's not…"

"You got any better ideas?"

"...Fine. I'll bring help as fast as I can."

"Hope so, girlie. Now come on!"

With a roar, Logan lunged towards the door, with Tuli only a couple steps behind. Sure enough several patrons clustered together to block his path, but he plowed into them anyway, forcing them back a step. A moment later he felt Tuli's sandals against his back as she spring-boarded off of him, leaping into the air over the surprised faces of the men and women around him-

Only to be grabbed by the leg by Boris. Tuli yelped in shock as she abruptly found herself dangling in the air by her leg again, and Logan shouted in dismay, but before he could do anything Boris swung the huntress sideways, hurling her at him. Tuli crashed headlong into Logan, throwing both of them to the ground. Before either of them could push back to their feet they were mobbed by at least a dozen men and women, dragging them upwards, laughing as they-

"Hokay, that's good enough."

Mamma Titania's voice pierced clearly through the chaos and mayhem of the fight, and abruptly everything stopped. Every man and woman in the room that had been vying to beat the snot out of the two hunters suddenly pulled back, leaving Logan and Tuulikki in the center of a wide circle by themselves, side-by-side and bracing themselves for another attack.

There was a groan of wood, and Logan and Tuulikki both turned as Titania pushed to her feet. Logan's heart sank at the sight as the Wyverian stepped off the stage and strode towards them; she had to be almost three times as tall as him, and certainly didn't look like a scrub when it came to fighting. If she was stepping in to fight as well… even if he and Tuulikki teamed up on her, he doubted they could win. But the woman didn't look like she was raring for a fight. Rather, her face was split into a wide, joyful smile.

"Heheh. Yep, you is definitely Lynn's boy," the Wyverian chuckled. "Little weaker than I'd hoped, but that's fine."

Logan braced himself uncomfortably as several of the others in the crowd shouted their agreement. Several of them were praising his combat skills, as well as Tuulikki's. Others were complimenting how well he'd done with a cast on his arm. Others still were applauding how well he'd worked using tables and chairs and anything else he could find to fight off their attackers.

"Uh… what?"

Titania barked a laugh, and knelt down so that her face was level with his. Her face split into a broad, welcoming smile. "Let me introduce myself all proper-like, hey? I is Mamma Titania, proprietor of this bar. And you… you is Lynn's son. That make me you great-great-great-great… uh, great-grandmother, hey? Or something like that."

Logan's jaw would've hit the floor if it wasn't attached to his head. "What?!"

The crowd around them roared with laughter, and Titania's grin only grew wider. "That's right! You mamma is my descendant! Welcome to the family, boy!" She laughed, yanking the hunter right off his feet and into the air, pulling him into a tight hug. Logan wheezed in pain from the force of it; he felt like a stuffed toy compared to the woman's size. Finally, she set him down, placing a hand on his head and ruffling his hair. "Heh, is nice to see some black hair in the family tree 'gain! Seems like all my descendants only coming out brunette these last hundred years or so, hey?"

"Wait wait wait!" Logan snapped, swatting the woman's hand away. "What you mean, you is related to me? I never heard of you!"

"Is true, boyo," the Wyverian smirked. "You sure you mamma never mentioned me? Thinking they's gotta be least once she talk 'bout us."

"What? No… I is pretty sure she…"

Logan paused, thinking back. The name 'Titania' did ring a bell… the Shield had mentioned her before the first exam, said she was a real terror in a fight (and Logan could now see why). Lynn, however… he did recall her mentioning someone named Titania once a long time ago, maybe back when Logan was only maybe ten. She'd also mentioned once that she wanted to introduce him to 'Mamma', but Logan had written that off as just talking in her sleep. Even still, to have a distant relative like this and mention her only twice…? But on second thought, his mother really didn't talk with the family he did know about either, which these days only really meant her brother-in-law and great-nephew.

"Thought of something, darling?" Titania grinned.

"Hold on, this doesn't make any sense," Tuli cut in, stepping between Logan and Titania and scowling up at the Wyverian. In another situation, Logan would've been amused at the sight: the smallest woman he'd ever met glaring daggers up at the largest was an entertaining sight. "Even if he is related to you - no, especially if he is, why the hell would you attack him like you did? I may not get along with… all my own family, but even I would not assault anyone without provocation!"

"Oh, that little tussle?" Titania shrugged. "Was just our way of welcoming someone into the family! Good fight is the best way to figure out what someone is really made of, hey?"

"You… but that is insane!"

"Can dig out the old family records if you want."

"Really seemed like you was trying to kill us," Logan agreed. "This really the way you treat you family?"

The Wyverian smirked, motioning to the crowd around them. "Think about it, darling. You really think you'd still be standing if we all wanted you smooshed to paste?"

Logan and Tuli looked around, shifting nervously under the dark grins that surrounded them. "Eh… maybe not."

"You see? This just our way of saying 'hello', hey? 'Sides, you know you mamma as well as anyone, darling. You really surprised to find out she come from a family like this one?"

"Hmm… Guess not," Logan admitted. Tuli gave him a concerned look, and all he could do was shrug sheepishly.

"Heh, see? What I tell you? And now that all that's over, you is an official member of the family!" The men and women around them roared their approval, and all of a sudden Logan found himself mobbed by the lot of them, but instead of the violence from before, the horde was treating him to pats on the back, shaking his hand, and even a few hugs as drinks were shoved into his and Tuli's hands. Titania smiled as she turned and walked back to the stage, sitting on the edge. "I has already introduced myself all proper-like, but the rest of this rabble is a part of the family too! A part of the Rohkin."

"The… Rohkin?" Logan asked. The man he'd slugged at the restaurant had called him a Kin…

"That's right. Guess a Therian boy ain't gonna know 'bout us… but looking like you girlie here does."

Logan turned to Tuli. The huntress was still fairly close to him, and her fists were still clenched as if she was still expecting the worst. Sure enough, she had a look of recognition on her face at the name, though being singled out made her fidget nervously. "Ah… I… may have heard the name once or twice."

"Really?" Titania leered. "And what is folks saying 'bout us?"

"Umm…"

"Go on, girlie. Let's hear it. Ain't nothing I haven't heard before."

"People… say that… you are a collection of mercenaries and hired thugs. They say you are brutes and lunatics. The worst type of hoodlums the city has to offer."

"Heh, you is being generous," Titania smirked, and a few of those around them laughed wickedly. "Heard a lotta worse things said 'bout me than that, hey? Thing is though, most of the stories you ain't saying out loud… they's all probably true, hey?"

Tuli paled slightly, making Logan wonder exactly what sort of stories she'd heard about these people. All around them, members of the 'Kin' were grinning, and a few were discussing… acts of violence or other such things they'd committed. Logan stared around, feeling slightly disoriented at everything. He jolted slightly as one of them, the woman he'd kicked in the face he realized, came by and patted him on the shoulder and welcomed him to the 'family', grinning even while she had a set of tissues stopping up a bleeding nose, but Logan only nodded lamely, staring down at the glass of beer in his hand but not drinking anything.

"You okay, darling?" Titania asked, kneeling down again and looking at him with a surprising amount of concern. Logan didn't reply, looking around nervously at the rest of the crowd around him. Titania raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Hmm… Suppose we can be a little off-putting if you isn't ready for this kind of thing? Guess a lotta this caught you off guard. Maybe you want a more private talk, hey?"

"Uh, ja… think so…"

"Hokay," Titania said, standing upright and snapping her fingers. "Me and Logan here gonna have a talk. The rest of you keep the girlie entertained."

"Wait, what?" Tuli sputtered, before yelping in shock as one of the women in the crowd grabbed her by the waist and lifted her into the air over her head. "Hey! Put me down!"

"Nope!" the woman laughed. "Mamma's having some bonding time with her grandson, so you get to hang out with us!"

"What?! No! I can- Don't- Logan! Logan, tell them to- Hand's off! Logan!"

Tuli's frustrated shouts echoed through the room as the huntress carried her into the next room, where the sounds were quickly muffled by the laughter and other sounds of the bar. Logan frowned and scratched his head nervously.

"Eh… she gonna be okay?" Logan muttered.

"She gonna be fine, hey?" Titania chuckled. "My boys and girlies are a mean bunch, but they just wanna have fun. She you friend too, so they treat her nice and gentle."

"Thinking you idea of 'nice and gentle' ain't the same as mine…"

"Heh, won't argue with that. Now come on. My place is in the back." Logan hesitated for a moment longer before finally turning to follow the Wyverian into a tall side hallway. A heavy pair of footsteps followed behind them, and Logan turned to find Boris trailing close behind them. Titania seemed unperturbed by his presence, leading the two men up to a towering iron door (with a smaller door embedded into the bottom center), pulling it open and leading the two of them inside.

What lay beyond the door took Logan by surprise: it was merely the interior of a comfortable, but fully-furnished house. However, it made Logan feel as though he had shrunk in size, where everything was twice or thrice as big as it would normally be, sized up to fit Titania's needs. Dressers and furniture were tall enough that he had to crane his neck to look over them. The Wyverian waved her hand vaguely in Boris' direction, motioning towards the door. "No interruptions 'less they's a big problem, hey?"

"Got it, Mamma," the man replied, plopping down in a normal-sized chair near the door and picking up a book to skim through.

Titania continued through an archway, leading Logan into a lounge of sorts. Several large chairs were arranged, each as big as the wagon that Logan and Bram shared, with pillows that were bigger than Logan himself. The room was coated with a great collection of trinkets and oddities, but there were far fewer trophies and displays than Logan would've expected, and most of the decor looked as though it had been hung up out of sentimental value more than anything else. The only real trophy displayed in the room was the head of a… Logan thought the creature was called a Teostra, mounted on one wall, but even that seemed little cared for, as it was hung crooked, and the horns and tusks of creature were being used to hang coats from.

"Take a seat," Titania said, waving her hand in the direction of the far wall. Logan frowned; the smallest chair would require him to climb to get up into it. Grunting in determination, he approached a large couch which stretched at least twenty feet long and vaulted up onto the cushions. A few moments of shuffling around and he eventually found it most comfortable to sit with his legs crossed in the center of the cushion. Looking back up towards Titania, he found that she had sunk into an armchair that had been made to match her size, and was reclining comfortably into it.

"So," she purred contentedly. "I is thinking you gotta lotta questions."

"Yeah, I… gotta lot of 'em," Logan sighed, running his fingers through his black hair. "So… you is really my mamma's great-great… uh… ancestor?"

"Yep, and you ancestor as well. Can go dust off the old family records if you want." The Wyverian motioned vaguely to a door off to the side. "Think they's buried somewhere in my boudoir… You can trace you family line all the way back to the old ones in Cathar if you want, hey? We Wyverians got a long memory for these things… You mamma help me fill in a few gaps we was missing for a century or so, so that branch I was worried 'bout is nice and grown again." Titania grinned as a thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Might gotta get it out anyway. We gotta add you to the tree, and I guess Barras and his girlie had they first child 'bout a month ago…"

"Uh… right, I… I guess." Titania tilted her head curiously, staring at him. Logan averted his eyes, staring down at the hands folded together in his lap. "It's… just… The thing is, I'm not… I… I is adopted. I is not… not actually-"

"Pfft. Big deal. You really think that matters?" Titania cut him off, surprising him. "What, you think something simple like that gonna make a difference? Let me ask you this: do you think of Lynn as you mamma?"

"Ja…"

"And do she think of you as her son?"

"Yes."

"Then you is family! Is easy at that, hey? When you second uncle Vincent's buddy died during a hunt, Vince took in his son as his own, and now the boy is on the family tree, same as you will be. Is like that saying goes… erm, can't remember it that well… Blood and water, something like that?"

"Blood is thicker than water?"

"Yes! Wait. No! What? That ain't right…"

"Think it's, 'the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb', hey?" Boris' voice echoed in from the entry hall.

"Ho, yes, that's the one!" Titania laughed. "That's why we say Boris is the smart one here."

"He's the smart one?"

"Heh, what, you think he was only dumb muscle?" the Wvyerian smirked. "I don't like it when my family act stupid, hey? Gotta be smart, darling… least, as smart as a buncha brutes and lunatics can be."

"Oh… um, I see."

"So, anything you wanna know?"

"Ja, you could say that… What is this place?"

"Is 'Mamma Titania's'!" the Wyverian cackled. "Says so right by the front door, hey?"

"It- Ja, I know, but… You is my great-great-something grandmother, they's folks 'round here related to my mamma, apparently she been here before… Why I never hear 'bout this place before?"

Titania raised an eyebrow. "She never told you 'bout this place? Not even a little? Her letter said she was gonna tell you to drop by…"

"Her… she sending you letters?"

"Every now and then. I get one every few years, filling me in on what she up to. Telling me she take in a little Lost baby boy, raising him as her own." Titania paused in thought for a moment and laughed to herself. "Kinda funny, hey?"

"What?"

"You is my great-great-great-great-great-grandson, darling. But, at the same time, you is technically way, way older than me. I is one of the oldest living humanoids in the world, and I got a descendant that's, eh, thirty times older than me? Ha!" Logan couldn't help but chuckle at the idea. Titania continued to grin to herself as she leaned against one of the armrests of her chair. "Anyway, few months ago, you mamma said she you and you 'prentices were coming to Gahiji, hey? Said she'd send you our way, all subtle-like."

"I don't think…"

Logan paused, tilting his head in thought. 'Mamma's'. The name sounded familiar, but… Then it hit him. He remembered, back before he, Sonia, and Bram had left Theron, his mother had told him that if he ever visited Dundorma, that he should stop by a place called 'Mamma's'. She'd said it had pretty good food, and he'd meant to stop by when Stellazzio had passed through, but he'd forgotten about it after getting roped into becoming Tuli's apprentices. Then, once he'd arrived in town, she'd mentioned the place again in a letter, asking him to find out if the beer at Mamma's was still worth drinking. He'd meant to check the place out, but between Sonia's recovery and preparing for the exam, it had once again slipped his mind…

"Erm… guess she may have mentioned it a couple times, but…"

"Heh, well, is always tricky trying to act all subtle-like about this place, hey?" Titania chuckled. "But that's half the fun! Trick you kiddies into coming here, not knowing what to expect, and then the entire bar finds out how tough they is! Find out how much pepper they got in them, eh darling?"

"So that is something you do for everyone?"

"Eh… most folks. Not all, hey? Not every one of my descendants gonna be a tough guy, not every one of them gonna be big and strong. We take it easy, see what they made of." The Wyverian smirked, resting her head against her fist. "If you think my boys and girls weren't holding back in there 'gainst you and you little girlie, maybe you take a few too many smacks, hey? The young folks is only sent here when they mamma or pappa thinks they is ready to prove they worth, but they never gonna take on the whole bar, darling, no matter how good they is. But even if they's weak, long as they got the fire in they heart to try, we ain't gonna be disappointed."

"And… everyone out in the bar is you descendants? Hoy… didn't know I had quite so many relatives, hey?"

Titania barked a laugh at the statement. "Ha! No no no… Maybe I is old enough to have that many grandchildren… Maybe. But you ain't got that many cousins, darling. The family tree don't branch out quite that far. Only 'bout ten or so out there is in the family proper, hey? The rest is friends and comrades, folks that like it here. The Rohkin. The family. My family."

"Still, I woulda thought Mamma'd mention if I have cousins, even if they was in another country."

"Eh, maybe. Personally, I is of the same mindset. I like keeping track of all my descendants, but I don't really leave Dundorma too often anymore, and you mamma's branch of the family… they wasn't really the type to keep in touch, hey? Don't surprise me that she never told you 'bout us," Titania said matter-of-factly. "Truth is, you mamma only visited this place once… and was a bad time in her life, hey? Right after her boy, Oswald, died."

"Oh…"

"Ja, ja. Might be why she don't wanna talk 'bout it, hey? Maybe she ain't so tore up 'bout him these days, but back then? Whooph. Was like watching a corpse walk through the door first time she show up. Prob'ly don't help she was thinking that maybe we gonna kill her the second she say who he is… Maybe she actually want it that way-"

"Hoy, what?! You was gonna-"

"We was not gonna kill her!" Titania snapped, turning to glare at Logan. "Just saying I is pretty sure that she thought we was."

"Eh… can't imagine why," Logan muttered, "the way you people say 'hello' is any indication…"

"Hmph. We didn't do that to her. Not at first, anyway. She look like she was hollow inside; ain't no fun fighting someone like that, hey? Reason she think we gonna kill her is 'cause of you great-grandpapa." The look of confusion on Logan's face made Titania roll her eyes. "Guess you family never told you that story either, hey? Don't surprise me, all things considered. Is the reason you side of the family don't really… keep in touch."

"What happened?"

"Hoy…" Titania groaned, leaning back in her seat. "That's a story… All started back 'bout hundred and thirty or forty years ago. The young blood of the family was you great-grandpapa, Holt, and his brother, Carson. Those two was inseparable, and a coupla the best hunters you ever see in these parts. The best team you ever seen! Heh, the prim ol' Purists like to turn they noses up at us Rohkin, but was hard for them to mock when my boys was marching back into town ahead of the nastiest creatures you ever seen on a regular basis, hey? Thinking they still hold the record for Deviljhos slain as a team… maybe. Been a while, and I ain't kept too close a watch on things. Still they made they grandma proud.

"Anyway, back then Carson was head-over-heels in love with a huntress called Morgana. Pretty little thing he met when the boys was doing work near the Blasted Land, I think. Heh, I really liked that girl. A real sweetheart, but tough as nails. Was from the desert area, so she used to hunt Diablos and Monoblos all the time, hey? Would pluck out they eyes and pickle them in this mix of… honey and hot peppers, and serve 'em up at feasts."

"Ugh… really?" Logan groaned, wrinkling his nose.

Mamma grinned wistfully at the memory. "Lovely woman. Wish I'd gotten that recipe from her."

"Remind me never to eat here, hey?"

"Heheh. So, Carson and Morgana's relationship continue like most relationships do, things happen, they announce they engagement, planning the marriage. Holt's all set up to be the best man, hey? Anyway, day of the wedding comes, and… well, thinking you can guess what happened, hey?"

"Girlie runs off with his brother?" Logan asked, and Titania nodded.

"Is a real cliché, ja? Gotta admit, didn't see it coming. Always knew Morgana and Holt got along real good, but never thought she was that sweet on him. But Carson… Carson was furious. As long as I been alive, they's only been so many times I seen someone burn with hate like that. All his love for the girlie, the love for his brother, and they both betrayed him like that? That day he declared a blood feud."

"A… blood feud?"

"Yep. Swore that he would have his revenge, no matter what. He swore he would kill Holt, and maybe even Morgana if he ever found them. And he also swore that if he couldn't find them, then his descendants would find Carson's descendants and kill them, until they'd gotten revenge for the betrayal."

"What?! He announced that? To everybody? Why wouldn't the city guards-"

"Eh, was a different time back then, darling. If you think folks in Gahiji is big on honor and pride these days, the kinda things folks did back then was wild. Feuds and broken honor was like… challenging someone to a duel or something, not strictly legal, but wasn't like murder so you wouldn't be arrested or nothing. Carson's anger was so hot and so heavy… We couldn't stop him. We all tried to talk him out of it, but they was no reasoning with him. He had gone mad with rage. Holt and Morgana had left town, hoping his brother would calm down and forgive him, but it was not to be. He chased after Holt for two years with murder in his heart, following rumors and stories from one corner of Gahiji to the other, never resting or slowing down, 'cept when he lost they trail and they was in hiding again."

The Wyverian sighed wearily. "Guess it all became too much for Holt and Morgana. Maybe they was hoping that Carson would forgive them, but after two years… guessing they'd given up hope of that. So the two of them pack up and run 'cross the border into Theron, hoping to escape Carson's hunt. Was… was painful to get that letter from you great-grandpapa. Said they was going to change they name and everything, hide themselves someplace safe… and they wasn't gonna send us any more letters. I gotta hear about one of my descendants hunting down his brother already, now I gotta hear that I never gonna hear from Holt again to protect his wife and children.

"Hmph. And Holt wasn't even deterred by that. Swore he would chase the two down, even if he had to scour all of Theron… Got his passport, got all his things in order. Only thing he didn't have was money. Boy'd spent most of what he got on the wedding, and then all the work he put in hunting his brother and runaway bride, hey? He was broke! We sure as hell wasn't gonna give him money, so the boy had to stop to work up some dough for his journey…"

Titania paused, frowning and rubbing the brim of her nose. "And then the story go from sad to real stupid, hey? Carson goes off north, killing Zamtrios or something for a lotta cash… then he come home a month later, and they's a pretty little girl hanging off his arm wearing a wedding band. Say he was injured fighting a real big one of them sharq-frogs and had to visit a clinic up there. The girlie there is his nurse, and the fools fall in love with each other at first sight, and they go and get married after they know each other for a week!"

"What."

"That's what the rest of us say!" Mamma snapped, rising to her feet and waving her arms dramatically. "We all asking him, 'what about Holt', 'what about Morgana', and he just say he ain't even mad no more! That he just gonna forget about that whole blood feud thing and let bygones be bygones since now he got this new girlie and ain't even broken up 'bout Morgana no more! But the two of them already run away to Theron and nobody know where to find them! How we supposed to let them know that they can come home, that they don't gotta worry 'bout being hunted down? But that fool Carson was too stupid-in-love to really think 'bout that kind of thing! I gave that fool such a smack, was a good thing that girlie he got was a nurse, I tell you that!"

With a miserable groan, Mamma slouched deeper into her chair. "Anyway, after that we tried to get hold of Holt and Morgana, but they already hid theyselves away. Can't send letters to folk when you don't know they name is or where they living, hey? Even Carson couldn't do nothing 'bout it all. So we didn't do nothing, and hoped Holt and Morgana would find they happiness wherever they ended up, hey? Find a nice place all quiet-like and start a family of they own…"

Mamma grew quiet, smiling wistfully. "Suppose he did, hey? Didn't hear hide nor hair of him or his wife until you mamma show up at our doors, saying she was his granddaughter. Though, like I said, girlie looked dead to the world. Her boy Oswald was dead and she don't take it so good, hey? Hearing Holt's stories 'bout the feud, thinking maybe she come all this way hoping one of Carson's kids gonna kill her on the spot."

"She wouldn't!" Logan replied sharply. "She's ain't the type to-"

"Hmph. Maybe. Maybe not. She never said why she come all this way looking for us. Maybe she just need a change of scenery, hey? But everyone's got they weak moments, even you mamma," Titania told him, taking a long draft from the bottle. "But… whatever reason she come all this way, we took her in like any other member of the family, hey? Put the, uh, initiation test on hold, but we welcome her and give her a place to stay while she… work out her problems. Managed to weasel out the names of her family, sent them some letters letting them know where Lynn was. Had to be real careful 'bout the wording though; didn't want none of them thinking the feud was still in effect. Told them we'd look after her 'til she was all better.

"Girlie ended up living here for 'bout six months. Spent a lotta that time drinking, bemoaning the things she don't like 'bout her life and… 'bout herself. You mamma's not as strong as she pretends to be, tries to cover all the things she thinks make her weak by being loud and confident. I seen a lotta girlies like her during my life… The loss of her boy was the worst of it, but they was days when she do nothing but compare herself to her sister, Briar; 'the prettier one, the smarter one, the better hunter'. Guess they was a complex there… suppose everyone got someone they trying to measure up to."

Titania sighed, and a gentle smile crossed her face. "But time passed, and slowly but surely you mamma got better. Started getting along with the family, laughing, telling jokes and stories… heh, fighting. Holt always was a bruiser in the ring, guess he taught all his kiddies how to throw down just as good. Soon enough, you mamma was fitting right in with the rest of my boys and girls, like she'd always been here. We give her the initiation one day, and she pass with flying colors!"

"What exactly does 'flying colors' include?" Logan asked.

"Heh, you remember those fellas out there, saying you mamma broke they bones and stuff? That's flying colors."

"Ah."

"Yup. But just as quick she come, one day she decides it's time to go home. Says she ready to move on with her life, do her own thing. We throw one big going-away party for her… and the next day she gone. We still keep in touch with letters. Got nothing but complaints all those years they made her a politician. But she got you. She's written a lot about you, Logan. She very proud of you, and I can see why." Logan's eyes widened, and he turned his head away in embarrassment. Titania simply cackled in amusement, allowing the hunter to gather himself. Even once he finally managed to turn and face her again, there was still a bit of tint to his face. "So, guess that the story of how we know you mamma. Anything else you wanna know, darling?"

"I don't… Honestly, I is still a little overwhelmed," Logan admitted. "Feel like they's a thousand things I wanna ask, but… same time I is drawing a blank."

"Is alright. You don't gotta get all you answers right now. Me and the family ain't going nowhere, darling, so if they's any questions you got, all you gotta do is come by, hey?"

"Eh, yeah… may need to take you up on that sometime," Logan chuckled. "Guess if nothing else, this explains why Mamma's so tall, hey? Only other person I seen as big as you is that Immenseness guy."

Titania scoffed. "Ja, ja, they's always comparing me to Grandpapa. Least he don't send folk around tellin' me I need to act more 'upstanding' anymore… hoy. That was an annoying few decades. Always remembers my birthday though… sent those kegs last fall. Maybe should go say hello. Been a few years."

"Eh?"

Titania smirked. "Heh, guess you don't know that either, hey? That old lump sitting up at the top of the hill is my grandpapa."

"What?!"

"Heh, that's right. I is the granddaughter of His Immenseness Leto ka'Polus. I is over three hundred years old and I is still technically 'Princess Titania', hey? Or whatever they gonna call me since Grandpapa don't like being called a 'king'. Ha! Think they'd be a revolt if anyone tried to put me on the throne." The Wyverian's smile coiled at one end as she leered at Logan. "You know what that means, darling?"

"Uh… what?"

"Heheh. Means that, technically, you is royalty!" The Wyverian cackled gleefully at the dumbfounded look on Logan's face. "You is my descendant, 'dopted or not, and since I is the granddaughter of this country's 'king', that means you is a prince, and that means you gots a claim to the throne. A real little claim, but is still a claim. So some day, when that old blowhard up on the hill bites the dust, maybe you get a knock on the door from a puffed-up coot saying you is the country's new king?"

"Uh… no. No thank you," Logan muttered, and Titania laughed again.

"Ja, ja, ja, figured that much. Nobody on our side of the family care 'bout that kinda thing. But don't worry too much, darling. Figure they's gotta be something like fifty people gonna hafta die all at once 'fore they start looking at you, hey? Including me and all my other descendants."

"Hoy, that's good to hear… Eh, figure they's gonna be looking for my cousin 'fore they come after me anyway, hey? He's the one with the bloodline."

"You cousin?" Titania asked, her eyes lighting up in interest.

"Eh, ja. Er, second cousin or something, I ain't exactly sure. Briar's grandson, hey? Theo Drake. We, uh, we ain't seen each other too often, but I hear he's doing pretty good for hisself."

"Really? That's good…. Well, next time you see him, maybe you send him this way, hey?" Titania gave him a wicked smile. "But be all subtle-like. Want to give him a proper introduction to the family, ja?"

"Huh. See what I can do, but might be a bit tricky when it comes to him…"

A knock at the front door drew Titania's attention. There was a moment of whispering from out in the hall before Boris entered, leading a broad-shouldered woman with an eyepatch. "Ja? Something wrong?"

"Sorry, Mamma, but we got a problem. The kid's girlfriend got hammered and passed out."

"She not my- She what?" Logan blanched.

"Yup. Heinkel talked her into a drinking contest, and uh, she didn't do well."

"Hoy…" Logan muttered, hopping off the couch and tailing after the huntress as she led him back out to the bar. Sure enough, as he entered, he quickly caught sight of Tuli sprawled out across a booth seat, murmuring under her breath with half her shirt covered in alcohol.

"Oy, how many she have?" he asked, setting her upright. She managed to keep herself up for only a couple seconds before toppling over onto her side again.

"Three mugs," a stout man behind him chuckled.

"Three mugs of what?" Logan asked, and the man passed him a flagon. Logan sniffed it cautiously before taking a sip and frowning. "This just regular beer. Ain't even that strong…"

"Nope. The girlie's just a lightweight," the man guffawed. "Thought she'd be a little heartier with how easily she accepted the challenge, but after a single pint she was teetering, she was rambling after the second, and about halfway through the third she just fell over."

"Hoy, girlie, what the hell you thinking?" Logan muttered.

"She was probably thinking she wanted to win!" one of the others cackled. Logan sighed in frustration as he sat Tuli upright again, and the huntress babbled incomprehensibly for a moment, shoving a finger at Logan's chest before leaning over the table and burying her face in her arms.

"Hoo boy. Girlie don't look too good, hey?" Logan looked up as Titania appeared, looming over him and looking down at Tuli. "Better get her home, darling. 'Less you wanna stay here. We gots some bunks in the back."

"Nah, better carry her back," Logan replied. "Our friends gonna be worried if we don't come home. Wish I… wish I coulda talked with you some more…"

"Heh, don't worry, boy," Titania grinned, reaching down and ruffling his hair. "We ain't going nowhere. You can come by whenever you want and we can talk all you like. Can't promise we gonna be sober… but you always gonna be welcome here. You a part of our family, Logan, so this place as good as you own home now."

Logan flushed in embarrassment at the words, to the amusement of the other Kin. "Eh… thanks. Maybe I come back in a day or two… Introduce the rest of my friends to you guys, hey?"

"Looking forward to it, darling," Titania grinned. She quickly snapped her fingers. "Hoy, Regina, you gots a spare shirt somewhere for the girlie here? Don't wanna send her back soaked like she is. Gonna catch her death of cold…"

"Sure thing, Mamma," one of the huntresses replied. "Might be a bit big for a girl her size, but it's clean… Well, pretty clean. Not soaked in beer, at least."

The huntress carried Tuli off to one of the back rooms, and a few minutes later emerged with the silver-haired girl in a clean outfit. Tuulikki was still out of it as she was hoisted onto Logan piggyback, though she was thankfully coherent enough to at least cross her arms around Logan's neck.

"Don' touch my butt…" she mumbled as Logan shifted her into a comfortable position.

"Is either that or I drop you, Short Stuff," the hunter chuckled before looping his arms under her legs and making for the door. She made what might've been an attempt to slap him, but at best it just sort of rubbed her hand across his face. "Thanks for the help, Mamma. See you 'round."

"Come back anytime, darling!" Titania grinned as Logan carried Tuli out the door.

The night was cool as Logan walked back to the manor with Tuli hanging onto his back. The huntress was slipping in and out of consciousness, sometimes snoring, sometimes talking incomprehensibly to herself or to Logan (he couldn't really tell the difference). Either way he was glad she was managing to keep her arms around his neck, or the travel would've been much more difficult. He wasn't opposed to throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, but he was getting enough looks as it was and didn't want to make it worse. At least she didn't stink of booze; three mugs had left the scent of it in her breaths, but it wasn't that bad.

"R'they your family now?"

Logan tilted his head at Tuli's question. "Guess so, girlie. Kinda… kinda feels funny, hey? Never really thought too much 'bout any of my family 'side from my mamma, and now they's a whole bar of the folk saying they's my family? Is… is a little confusing."

"Hmm…" Tuli sighed, sinking her face into his shoulder. "You happy?"

"Heh… Ja, think so. Guess I gonna have to take some time to get to know them, but…" A small snore signaled that Tuli had passed out on his back, and he rolled his eyes, tightening his grip a little more as he made his way back to the manor.

---

"Ah! Tuli!" As Logan was climbing the steps to the manor, the door burst open and Vi rushed out, flying to Logan's side to examine Tuulikki. "What the heck happened to her, Logan?"

"We went to a… bar," the great sword user replied vaguely. "The girlie here challenged someone to a drinking contest."

"She did what? But Tuli can't handle her liquor at all!"

"Tell her that, girlie. I wasn't even in the same room when she did it, and when I come back she's like this. Had to carry her halfway 'cross the city, hey? Least she ain't that heavy…"

"Yeesh… Can you get her to her room?"

"Ja, sure, just open the doors for me, hey?"

Vi led the way, propping open doors for Logan as he made his way through the halls to the room Tuulikki was occupying. Everyone else had come home already, but everyone seemed to be in their rooms, as Logan could hear a few voices coming from within as he walked past, but Vi quickly ushered him straight to Tuulikki's room, where Logan was able to drop the huntress onto her bed. Tuli seemed to regain consciousness as she hit the mattress, but couldn't do anything more than babble drunkenly.

Vi immediately began to hover over her friend, wincing as the glaive wielder belched and hiccupped. "Bleh. How much did she have?"

"Two and a half mugs," Logan replied flatly. Vi stared at him blankly for a couple second before sighing and shaking her head.

"Yep, that sounds about right."

"Didn't realize she was such a lightweight," Logan noted. Though, now that he thought about it, she usually only got about halfway through a single pint before stopping when they were at bars… Logan had always thought she just didn't like the taste.

"That's right… Suppose if nothing else it means it doesn't cost much if she wants to be drunk. Where exactly did you guys go?"

"Eh… restaurant north of here… Then a bar in Lowtown."

"Oh, jeez… Well, thanks for getting her home, Logan. I'll take care of things from here."

"Need me to grab a bucket?"

"No, I've got it. You can hit the hay."

"Ja, alright. See you in the morning, girlie."

"Night, Logan." As the hunter quietly closed the door behind him, Vi sighed, turning to look down at her friend as Tuli mumbled incoherently on the mattress. Her eyes were slightly open, signaling that she was awake, if not entirely cognizant. "Jeez, what did you two do? I haven't seen you this drunk in a long time… And were you wearing that shirt earlier today? Is that even your shirt…?"

"Got inna bar fight…" Tuli mumbled. Vi's eyes widened in surprise as the glaive user's head rolled around on the pillow.

"How did-"

"Went an' saw a p- was a woman on a stage 'n'... clothes all hangin' off real loose…" Vi's mouth was gaping open as Tuli continued. "Logan lef' me 'lone witha buncha guys… went ta big girl's private room. Got drunk'n… an' took m'shirt off. An' he grabbed my butt."

Vi's expression was icy as Tuli rolled over in bed, continuing to mutter to herself. The huntress pushed to her feet and carefully tucked her friend in. "I'll be right back, Tuli. I need to… have a word with our friend Logan."

Tuulikki didn't reply, curling up under the blankets as the horn player covered the glowstone on the headstand with a dimming canvas and slipped out the room, latching the door quietly behind her. The relative peace only lasted about ten seconds or so before an explosive bang shook the walls and Vi's muffled voice echoed through the walls.

"Logan, you degenerate scumbag! What the HELL did you do to Tuli?!"

Shouting continued to penetrate the walls of the manor for several minutes after that, but Tuulikki paid no heed to it all, sinking into a drunken sleep.

"Family… s'nice to have family…"

---

Author's Note: Please Review! Thanks for reading this chapter about a family with a unique vocal inflection!

Wee! Titania! Finally I get to introduce her! I've been waiting for her to show up since the Memory DLC! And if you were wondering, she uses a Teostra great sword and lance shield as an SNS combo.

One of the things I really try to work with during the course of the story is maintaining how certain characters consider other characters, and how they act around them at that point in the story. Back in TLC, during the earlier chapters when Ellie didn't really like Levin and especially didn't care for him calling her 'Ellie', every chapter that was narrated from her view point only had her referring to herself as Eleanor, while Levin's POV called her Ellie, at least until after the Rath Mating Dance when Ellie started accepting the nickname as well. Other things are important as well, such as listing other characters. When characters list other characters in their thoughts, they're written in order of importance to the character in question. For example, at this point in the story if Sonia were to list the other hunters in the group, she'd give this order: Bram, Logan, Vi, Leon, Tuulikki. Vi's order would be: Leon, Tuli, Logan, Sonia, and Bram.

I try to do the same here with each character's POV, and how they act around each other. Violetta was referred to by her full name until after the group left Lintukoto, after which Sonia and Logan considered her a friend and called her Vi (well, sorta; Logan calls her girlie. Bram takes after his father and refers to everyone by their full name unless they're family or about as close as he is to Sonia). Tuulikki is only called Tuli by her friends, and never as such by those that have yet to really consider her as more than an acquaintance. As such, for the entire story up until now, Logan only thinks of her as Tuulikki (and even Sonia doesn't really consider her close enough to use her nickname yet), but after their discussion about their mothers, Logan has familiarized himself with her to the point where he thinks of her as a friend, or at least he's forgiven her for insulting Lynn and found some common ground, and thus starts thinking of her as 'Tuli' instead (though again, he'll refer to her as girlie or Short Stuff for eternity when speaking out loud). Tuli has a similar method, though her actions are more clearly seen by her words, since we haven't seen into her head yet: if she isn't familiar with someone, she doesn't speak with contractions as a sort of formal speech, but once she feels more at ease, she'll start talking more casually and shortening her sentences. Again, this is something seen after leaving the second bar.

Playing: Pokemon Moon, Final Fantasy XV, MHGen
Reading: Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon by Cool-kyou Shinsha, Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari by Aneko Yusagi, Hakumei to Mikochi by Kashiki Takuto
Listening: Brand New, The Kooks, Korn, The Adventure Zone
Watching: Critical Role, Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon, Pokemon Sun and Moon anime