There had been an initial fear when the medical interns saw Mlynar remain comatose for two days straight, but after a quick residual check on him by Gavial, Warfarin, Sussuro, AND the Doctor after the first twenty four, they had all concluded that "oh he definitely needed this" in regards to the two days in remained asleep. Even so, they had a few people come by to check on him every now and then just in case Mlynar sleep turned into something more dangerous. It never did, and when he opened his eyes he felt quite refreshed, longer than he ever felt in a long time.
Of course this refreshment was quickly dashed upon seeing the tower of cards that had been set on his prone form, with a scandalized Elysium, Jordi, Zofia, and Maria, he inwardly sighed at seeing Maria take part in this tomfoolery, as the card tower crumpled into a heap on top of him. All fifty two cards fluttered on top of him, not at all diminishing the harsh judgment in his eyes as stared at them. He noted Maria had several oil stains on her face and hands, which seemed rather unsanitary for a hospital.
"This was Elysium's idea!" Zofia shouted instinctively before the Liberi looked towards Mlynar with a guilty expression. "Run Maria!"
"EeEee!" Maria and Zofia took off as Mylnar swung his legs out from beneath the covers. Elysium did much the same as the cards clattered to the ground with Jordi in tow. Mylnar wasn't about to go chasing after them, more intent on stretching his unused ligaments with resounding pops coming from most of them. In truth, the sleep had made him somewhat more of a good mood rather than a sour one, where not even their childish games could annoy him.
Popping his neck joints a few times, the door opened and Mylnar saw the Doctor and Margaret walk into the room, both looked somewhat surprised that he was awake, but the Doctor also gave Mlynar a nod. Mlynar nodded back before he stood, a little shaky from unuse but he stood taller than before he fallen
"Welcome back Uncle."
"Welcome back to the land of the waking Mlynar."
"Hm, how long have I been asleep?" Mlynar asked.
"About two days. The meds were only meant to take you out for half a day, but it looks like your body wanted to rest a lot longer," the Doctor laughed. Mlynar grunted in response but then Margaret handed him a bag that had been on a table.
"I saw Maria and Zofia run out of here with two others, I assume that mess was their doing?" she gestured to the cards on the ground.
"You would be correct." Mlynar said as he looked in the bag, noting a change of clothes in the bag. Also a note written in handwriting he also recognized as Maria's. "A real change of clothes!" He scoffed before he excused himself and headed into the small personal toilet cubicle to change. His body felt stiff around his joints, and he grunted quietly with some effort when he had to bend down, but he came out refreshed, perhaps even more so than the days before his small bags under his eyes for one looked less pronounced to where one could not really see them unless you looked closely.
"What have I missed?" Mlynar asked. The three exited the medical clinic after the Doctor assured the staff who had seen the walking Mlynar that all was alright, even if there was still a little sway in his step as they made their way through the landship's halls. Mlynar looked out one of the view ports, noting the still raining storm covering the sky. The barest hint of a sun peaking out alongside a looming sight of something large over the horizon.
"Well as you can see, the rain is still pouring, but damage done as a result of the rain has begun to take its toll on the landship faster than we expected. Do you remember that emergency call I had you try and connect to?" the Doctor asked. Mlynar recalled the moments before the deluge hit.
"The one in regards to the emergency contact for the nearest mobile city?" Mlynar said. "Did the call make it through?" The Doctor nodded and a small look of repose graced Mlynar's face.
"We'll be making a docking connection, sometime soon actually." Margaret spoke now, Mlynar now surmising that's what the large looming object ahead was. But between himself and Margaret, there was still a formal air about them. Not many words having been shared between the oldest niece and the youngest son of Kirill since his induction to Rhode Island nor her return after setting up a preliminary office in Kawalerielki. "Uh, I have taken over many of your duties Uncle, especially in regards to the organization of the operators, and the paperwork involved." A rather distant look overtook Margaret's eyes as she remembered the many forms she had to check and vet through, many in triplicate.
"M-Margaret?" the Doctor's voice brought her back down to the land of consciousness, intent on not having their NEW assistant falling into a coma.
"Huh, yes!" Margaret shook herself off from the fatigue. Mlynar regarded her coolly. It was no secret there was tension between the two, many didn't know how or why it was like that. When others would ask about it to Zofia or Blemishine, they would only try and meander away from the conversation topic.
"What would you have me do, Doctor?" Mlynar asked, fully preparing himself to return to work.
"Actually Mlynar, since Margaret has taken over your duties, this has actually given me the opportunity to do something." The Doctor's voice was light but Mlynar's eyes narrowed, anticipating what they were about to say.
"Doctor…" That had been Margaret who spoke, well aware of how all this was. She had taken his job, continued it in his absence, and with the Doctor's consent, she would still be doing it going forward. Mlynar narrowed eyes met hers and she felt the tension between them once more.
"This will be a good experience for Margaret to get used to running larger operations and will help when she returns back to Kazimierz. Effectively immediately, I'm giving you full shore leave for our duration at New Orange Mlynar." The Doctor seemed so proud of their decision, smiling widely despite a barely disguised glower that came from Mlynar. There was a long pause before anyone spoke again. Those who were about to go through the hallway near to them immediately turned back around or simply went in through the door near to them, not at all caring where the door lead or if it was their intended destination. They simply NEEDED to leave before any proverbial sparks caught alight.
"Understood Doctor," Mlynar finally said. Two simple words that cut the tension of a room. Several of the onlookers let out relieved breaths before Mlynar then turned to Margaret. Despite her years of experience training as a knight, then fighting in the Majors, as a Follower after her exile, then as a Rhode Island operator, she felt like it was fifteen years ago. When Kirill the hero first fell into one of his degenerative fits that came from a lifetime of combat, a message had been sent out. How she held her sister, still nothing more than a walking baby, as a man stood in their front door amongst the rain. An impossible expression on his face as he had met a thirteen year old Margaret for the first time.
"Don't let the Doctor do too much Margaret. They have a habitat of eating more than they can handle and it ends up spilling on the others below," Mlynar said before turning around. His tall form cutting through the hall. However despite the harsh words for the Doctor and the almost reprimand for her, Margaret was able to hear her Uncle's true feelings.
"Do your best."
-L&L-
Mlynar found himself being the sole audience member to the concert being hosted by Czerny. In their room. Mlynar's hands were holding a bowl of mashed oats and honey, his first meal after waking up, a simple one but after eating nothing but fluid pumped nutrients it was a good thing to taste, as Czerny played through his piece. Only for Czerny to stop abruptly, grab the sheet music holder, and fling it across the room.
"FOTZ!" he shouted, a stark contrast to the near serene expression on Mlynar's face as he ate. One could never realize how much one misses the sensation of food after falling asleep for two days straight. IV's and nutrient paste gels were not an ample substitute. Mlynar was totally uncaring as Czerny grabbed a notebook and threw it against a wall, the bindings of it immediately splitting as papers and the covers flew into the air.
It had been a good thing that the two men kept their main room relatively bare in regards to decorations, otherwise Czerny would have more than enough material to act his passions on. Their new impromptu roommate, as Mlynar had learned they had upon seeing his roommate again after waking up, poked his head out of his and Mlynar's now shared room. Midnight stuck his head out before quickly sticking it back in again when a stray quill zipped past his head and impaled the wall.
"Music block again?" Mylnar asked. Czerny had ceased his rampage and stood in the middle of a chaotic mess, heavily breathing and his usually immaculate appearance unkempt. This had been third one after Mlynar had returned to the room. Wiping hair out of his face, he fixed his monocle before responding.
"Something like that," the composer responded. He sat opposite of Mlynar, and poured himself a cup of tea to relax his nerves. "Good to see you awake as well. You were most likely already told of our impending stoppage at the mobile city?" Mlynar didn't verbally respond, but a nod of his head while chewing sufficed. "Then you also must know that we'll be staying in lodgings handled by Rhode Island." At this Mlynar paused.
"There are many operators, I'm surprised that there is a single property which would be able to accommodate everyone." Mlynar remarked. Czerny let out a small chuckle.
"Which is why Rhodes Island didn't have everyone stay in a single property. We've been spread out to different areas in accordance with certain personal parameters," Czerny explained. "I for one was able to be put in a hotel near a rather well known place "Bigroad". It has an apparent theater nearby I wish to observe. Vaunted even by Leithanians."
"Hmph, I have not been told of where I am meant to stay." Mlynar finished his meal finally and packed up the dish and utensils. Midnight finally exited from the room again, poking his head out and letting out a relieved sigh before coming out the room with the last suitcase carrying his belongings, the many outfits he brought when he initially came to share the space with Mlynar and Czerny.
"And finished. Mlynar, did you need to grab anything else?" Midnight asked. He was a polite fellow, although visually he was also a stark contrast in appearance to the original two. He had Elysium's talkative temperament, but a sense of dress and flamboyance that spoke much of his life before. Yet was not a bad roommate, for however brief it was, a little more than a month once the flooding started. He did have a lot of baggage however, both physically in the case of his many luggages he took out, and figuratively when no less than four women and three men had come to demand to see if Midnight was in the room at the time f his stay. Mlynar's severe appearance or Czerny's anger after being interrupted scarring them off.
"I have all I need," Mlynar replied, gesturing to the single duffel bag that was packed up in a corner. It was dwarfed between Midnight's four full suitcases of clothes and Czernys musical cases. "I take it you also have been told where you'll be."
"Oh yes, I've had some Columbian… Friends who've helped me find lodgings separate from the Doctor's plan, which will also help give me some ample work as well." Mlynar nodded before a large siren was sounded. Not one of alarm, but one to grab everyone's attention.
"Hello everyone! It's the Doctor!" the voice on the intercom chimed to the whole ship for everyone to hear. It drowned out the oppressive rainfall, which still fell despite the brightness of the day. " This is a heads up for everyone to head to main gangway ramps that'll lead you into the main city! If you have your own transportation, you are free to use such as New Orange is a big nomadic city!, if not, Rhode Island has arranged transportation trams for operators and staff to use to get to their residence. Those with large baggage are implored to leave your residence information before depositing it in the logistical hub for delivery later. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call me, Margaret Nearl, or the support hotline in your terminals!" The Doctor's announcement cut off as another siren rang.
"All personal loading ramps have ascended."The robotic voice of PRIESTESS played overhead as doors opened and individuals began to make their way out of their rooms. Mlynar had his bag hefted over his shoulder while some logical drones came to their room to help move Czerny and Midnight's belongings.
"Mlynar? Where are you going?" Czerny asked. Mlynar was going in the opposite direction of most Rhode Islanders, with only his duffel bag slung over his shoulder, the sword's handle sticking out through the top, he looked less like a man who had slept for two days and more like some sort of wandering vagabond.
"The Doctor's message said if we had our own transportations, we were allowed to use that." Czerny gave the man a confused look before the crowds swallowed him up and Mlynar continued his walk. He kept walking through the corridors, walking past the majority of staff who were going to the ramps to take the shuttles that Rhode Island had commissioned. Different from their mission vehicles, but a few operators had their own personal transportation who were likewise following the same path as Mlynar. He needn't to verbally acknowledge many of them, like Glacier, who already had her survey equipment packed up. He nodded to Lee who waved with a smile with Hung, Aak, and Waaifu in tow. It seemed Jaye had been left to carry the luggage, though perhaps not from lack of trying to relieve his burden as he easily carried all their bags with minimal effort.
Eventually Mlynar reached his destination along with many others, the vehicle bay. He walked over to the corner where a cover lay atop a vehicle. Lifting it up, he revealed the Hussar, however something was strange. He noted a paint job that was not there before and a few aesthetic pieces as well, he sent a look around and saw Feist turn back around too quickly. The Feline's eyes turned back towards him, before he tried to face away once more before Mlynar stood in front of him.
"Maria?" was Mlynar's one worded question. A little noise of confirmation came from the Engineer before Mylnar sighed, but let out a low puff of a chuckle.
He turned back to the Hussar again, noting slight structural changes as well. A larger seat, enough to occupy another rider, as well as black feather like etches on the back of the support, appearing like wings. A name had also been etched on the handle, and Mlynar shook his head at the name Maria had chosen for it.
"Fealty. Of course." Mylnar chuckled into his hand as he strapped his belongings to the cargo section of the bike. Maria's etched feathers had more grip, securing his duffel bag tighter, before he noted a slot on the side of the bike. Attached on the bag of the rest, it was angled slightly and Mlynar realized it was meant to hold his sword, rather than having it hang on his waist while riding. Taking it out of his bag, he slotted it in before locking it closed. He noted it now, looking at the little details his niece added in perhaps the two days he was asleep. There was another note he saw, a drawing Maria left him.
"That girl… She has not improved still." A small smile almost threatened to break on his lips but it never made it passed his disciplined control.
"...nar! Mlynar!"
Mlynar whipped his head around after hearing his name, eyes looking around before noting an approaching figure. Mlynar narrowed his eyes before they widened, he didn't recognize her in fairness. More used to her wearing her regal attire, she wore a simple black jacket. Long boots and her normally hidden tail was swishing behind her as she ran to him accompanied by the soft clicking of the boot's heels on the floor.
"Ah, Lavinia, do you need something for me?" he asked when she got to him. She must've been running for quite a distance as she seemed rather winded. Her gauntlet was nowhere to be found, but instead she had her mace looped on her waist and a small bag slung over her shoulder.
"Your… Your… Residence information." Mlynar noted a letter in her hands, stamped for him. "Your… area of stay… Same as… mine." Lavinia finally caught her breath before standing up. She also noted Mlynar's own change of clothes.
Gone was his formal office attire, no blue shirt or silver tie nor his almost regal black overcoat. Instead he wore a rather simple outfit of black, a collarless polo with the buttons undone where Lavinia saw the flash of a necklace around his neck. A jacket with the sleeves rolled up and thick riding pants. Several belts and pouches around his waist, one of which he opened up and put a slip of paper in it. He also seemed more awake. She thought he would've been more grumpy or scowling after she was told he awoke from his coma, especially with how Elysium had told her he looked after he admitted he might've dropped a deck of cards on him. But he seemed… Freshed. Not so much alert, he always seemed to be alert, but there was an energy to him that showed on the way he stood straighter.
She never realized how tall he was compared to her, nor how his tail swished instinctually when he stood. She did note the motorcycle, scooters were common in Siracusa, but a machine like that certainly looked to outperform even the best vespas.
"Here, this is yours," she handed the letter to Mlynar. It had been stamped with the official Rhode Island seal and addressed to a place called "Blue Luna Hotel". He pulled out his terminal before inputting its directions after it connected to the local cities intranet.
"My thanks," Mlynar said as Lavinia smiled and nodded at him. She however felt her terminal ring and she quickly picked it up as Mlynar busied himself doing a check over Fealty's other changes that Maria might've added.
"Deszcz?"
"Lavinia! Sorry, but the shuttle left!"
" Che cosa ?!" Mlynar turned to see Lavinia clench her teeth, she met his eyes before turning around and continuing in a quieter voice. "What? It left!"
"Yeah, we couldn't wait for you since this was the last one and was also holding some of the non-operative staff who needed to get to their areas to set up their workshops. I still have your stuff and I'll -schritz- er."
"Deszcz?"
"-schrtiz- rry! A lot of interfere -schritz- meet you at -schritz- hotel!" Then the connection was shut off as Lavinia stood in stunned silence. Her mouth felt dry and she felt a welt of anger, but also a sense of shame in herself. She knew she had to give Mlynar the registration info after Margaret had handed it off to her when she volunteered. She had spent a good time trying to FIND him after she found that he was not in their room. She had tried calling him, but even if they had spent a mission with Ezel and Fiametta, she had only the other's two contact info, neglecting to ask Mlynar simply because it seemed he was one who did not share such. So eventually she had found Czerny who gave her a vague direction of where he saw Mlynar went, and was only told to head to the vehicle bay after Maria had found her running around the quickly emptying meal hall.
But by then, the transportation circuit was running through its routes. Deszcz had promised to wait for her till the last shuttle left, but that call all but confirmed such. Which meant Lavinia would have to walk to the hotel, which wouldn't be an issue, since luckily she had given her larger luggage to be delivered by the logistic department and her personal luggage was trusted with Deszcz. But walking through a new mobile city was not a good start to a journey especially when files that she had were already enroute to the Hotel, and she did not know how long it would take for her to reach the place.
"Is there trouble?" Lavinia was noware she had been pacing again, and had caught Mlynar's attention. He stood against his bike, dusting his hands and tugging on a pair of white riding gloves.
"The, uh, last shuttle just left. Merda. I need to find a way there." A hiss came from her hands clenched and unclenched in a vain attempt to calm her down. A pause passed before Mlynar spoke.
"We are staying at the same facility, correct?" Mlynar asked. Lavinia looked up at him.
"Yes. The Blue Luna Hotel. It's a distance from the main city gates. Though I suppose a walk would do well… Cavolo , why did it have to rain…" The rain added another annoyance to her. Too much like Siracusa to relax her.
"I… could drive us there." Lavinia ceased her internal tirade as she looked at Mlynar. He never hesitated. He spoke deliberately, but he hesitated then. A strange look on his face as he spoke but he quickly squared his features. "This has enough space for two if you would not mind riding." He was gesturing to the motorcycle, sized for him so it almost dwarfed her but also had a lot space in its saddle.
"You're offering to drive me?" Lavinia asked. Another thing Mlynar did, he did not offer unless asked. Her mind was tittering between saying no out of niceness, not intent on relying on Mlynar's rare act of courtesy, and saying yes because the rain these last few days has made her feel terrible and having to walk through it would be like Siracusa–
"We share the same hotel," he started breaking her from her thoughts. "It would not be an issue for me, but would be an issue for you to walk through a strange new city on your own." He did not say it also would have been an issue for him, leaving someone to walk on their own when he could help them. He also did not say how letting someone else ride a Hussar while one did was… culturally complicated. He kept silent as the two stared at each other. "Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?'
"Siracusa… Has lighter variants of these called vespas, scooters. They're more for light travel within different neighborhoods than long distance," Lavinia replied. She did not say she's never ridden one. Not out of lack of availability, more so lack of want to. She didn't feel like she was able to drive one unlike she could a car. It was not because the idea of two wheels like such made her skin crawl with how flimsy they looked and when one crashed it never looked pretty.
Mlynar nodded to herself as much as he did to himself before clearing his throat and he went to the internal storage and pulled out a few things, a black and gold helmet. He handed it to her alongside a pair of ear plugs. In his hands already was a pair of goggles he strapped to his head.
"For you, a face shield so the wind won't hurt your eyes." Lavinia held the helmet, it was light but when she knocked the faceshield, she felt it was solid. She eyed the ear plugs and looked up at Mlynar.
"It's quite loud."
"Why dont you have any?" He shrugged noncommittally.
"I am used to it." Was his simple reply before she put both the earplugs in and the helmet on. She felt her ears get squished before they found the holes for what would be assumed to be Kuranta ears to fit, but her Lupo ones were appropriately sized enough. She felt them flick from their weird sensation and her eyes felt strange having something so big narrow her vision. The screen was also tinted, giving the world a slight golden hue to it. She pulled th visor up and it was back to normal colors.
Then Mlynar stepped over the motorcycle before using his legs to anchor it in place. His long legs easily kept it anchored when he pushed back the kickstand as he put the key in the ignition. A low hum came from the bike then.
"Climb on back," he gestured to the space behind him. There was certainly ample enough room on the seat for two people, but then Lavinia noted the rather intimate closeness this situation brought. As well as the fact of her choice of clothing, though glad she wore a longer skirt with spats rather than her usual skirt and tights.
Swallowing nervously for some reason, she followed the same action as Mylnar. Intent on having her leg shoot over to the other side of the bike, but didn't account how high she would need to have her leg over on a bike that was designed with Mlynar's height in mind. She almost fell over trying to raise her leg high enough, and was close to do so until a hand shot out to grab hers and hauled her back on to Fealty's saddle Her leg shot over to the otherside as her butt landed on something soft that she had initially presumed was his seat.
"Ouch," Mlynar said, almost quietly, but at this distance she could probably hear him think. And then she looked and Lavinia saw she sat on top of his tail.
"I'm sorry!" she apologized as she quickly stood and his tail moved out the way. Her own tail went to the otherside of the bike as she righted herself in the seat. She already saw the other personal vehicles begin to rumble on, noting several cars and another motorcycle driven by Glacia. Lavinia however reached to the sides and noted something.
"Where's the seatbelts?" she asked.
"Seatbelts?" Mlynar asked before twisting the throttle. The loud roar of the engine was still quiet loud for Lavinia even with the ear plugs in and she instinctively hugged the back in front of her. She felt Mlynar stiffen and she immediately let go.
"N-No." Was that a stutter? "It's probably safer if… you hold on." His voice was still heard over the growing noise of the engine as the other vehicles likewise did the same. Facing back to him, Lavinia saw how broad the man's normally hunched over form was, but tentatively snaked her arms to wrap around him, going around his stomach and hoping that her hands didn't go higher, and definitely hoped they didn't get jostled lower.
"I advise you to hold on tighter," he said. She didn't even get to ask "why?" before he gunned the throttle again. The roar of the Fealty's engine drowned the other vehicle's noise before Mlynar peeled out from his space and through the open vehicle bay. He saw the bright sun and the paradoxical rain, but the water did not touch him. The arts and originium engine attached to Fealty reacted to his arts activation, creating a faint environmental cover around him as he peeled down the ramp. The other vehicles seemingly followed him after he peeled down, no doubt because despite a Hussar not being focused on speed; it was still one of the fastest individual vehicles as it not only built for war but had the strong mechanical engineering of a Victorian originium engine.
Lavinia gripped her arms around Mlynar, her face pressed against his back at both the speed and sound of her ride. She almost considered just grabbing and telling him to just drop her off, she would rather walk. But then a deep rumbling came from Mlynar that she could feel from holding him. She eventually pulled herself off of him, and she looked up at him.
Without a helmet, his face and features were seen as plain as the blue in the sky. With his upper ears buffering from the wind resistance, and his hair flying around, he looked younger. His hands gripped his handlebars with a looseness that spoke of familiarity, but what really caught Lavinia's eyes was his face. Or more surprisingly, the smile that was on it. And not just a smile, but laughter that came from deep within the man.
A joyful smile on the dour looking man's face as he sped along the roads that lead into the city. Then she looked past him and saw what he saw. A wide open countryside,of rolling golden hills and sprawling green forests. Cut within it being houses and homesteads placed upon the artificial rolling hills of the mobile city's exterior areas. The sun had shone on the land, illuminating it a golden glow while the rain only served to make a sight that Lavinia had never seen in Siracusa with its incessant rain and dreary sun. A rainbow.
Brilliant colors arching across the sky as Mlynar and Lavinia sped on the road, easily maneuvering past other vehicles on the road due to their smaller size. It was borderline reckless the manner in which Mlynar drove, and yet there was a sense of comfort he had in weaving between cars that extended to Lavinia at how confident he was. She still held onto him, but it was no longer the tight embrace that she hoped didn't bother him.
With no way to communicate, she could only ride in silence. Yet she felt no boredom as she stared at the countryside of New Orange. It was… familiar to her in a way, similar to the wilderness areas around Siracusa, but with civilization seemingly intertwined with it still. Homestead, and farms dotting across that slowly lead to a growing length into denser and more complete advanced areas of civilization. It was a long road marked with cars that stood in traffic, and even Lavinia spotted a Rhode Island shuttle in the midst of the traffic. She wondered if Deszcz was on that one.
They however easily passed it and others as Mlynar's driving easily maneuvered through the throngs of traffic. It seemed he did not much like to wait in line for such, an absence of what was normally endless patience he exuded which Lavinia quietly laughed at. His attention was focused solely in front of him, and the growing height in buildings before leading into the main city gate, Ellis Gate, into one of New Orange's boroughs, Koningin. He slowed his breakneck pace as speed would not do well as the traffic lines got tighter and tighter, but the lanes of traffic increased, especially the closer they got. Mlynar and Lavinia both noted the openness in which the mobile city was, allowing all to pass through its gate as freely as a river through a valley.
When they passed through Ellis Gate into the city proper, Lavinia stared wide eyed at what she saw. Siracusa was her basis for how a mobile city looked and appeared. The rustic architecture of stone, brick, or marble, with heights going no higher than three of our stories for many buildings. Siracusa's stability and robustness coming from the generations of accounting for the volatility of mafioso wars. Bombs, arts, arrows, all manner of abuse hurled at the streets and the buildings on them. New Orange dwarfed it all in height. Towering skyscrapers of steel and glass rising up into the sky, much higher than Lavinia was comfortable seeing with her neck craned up. She felt dizzy looking at them and instead put her vision forward.
She almost wished she hadn't.
In front of her was fenced in areas of ramshackle homes that were beneath the towering giants buildings. Mlynar was forced to go slow enough that she saw the squallored conditions of the people who lived in those camps, infected and uninfected alike, what mattered was not their infection but something else. Something Lavinia did not know, but she knew that there was a quality in Columbian society that separated those people from others it seemed. She felt her mouth dry and her hands unconsciously clenched, altering her to Mlynar's short grunt of pain.
"I'm sorry," she apologized again. As a result of his cruising pace, the engine's roar had lowered to an almost dull snorting where they could talk. Mlynar still kept his eyes forward and maneuvered past cars easily, but responded.
"It's alright. It's your first time, I assume," he said. She laughed in response, and he chuckled along with her. He seemed almost different when he was driving. She had noted such when he drove the car on the Sargon mission, though not as relaxed as he was currently. She couldn't tell if it was due to the two days of sleep he got or the motorcycle driving, but Mlynar's usual temperament was lessened, and it was refreshing.
"We've certainly made it past a majority of the traffic, szczęście dla nas, " Mlynar noted. "The Blue Luna Hotel is not far from here, however, it is getting close to lunch time." Lavinia had not realized, and noted the time on her watch. They had been on the road for three hours already, how had it been three hours? And when her mind caught up to the time, her stomach let out a growl that she knew Mlynar could feel with her so close to him. In fact she still held onto him as she checked her wat–
Lavinia quickly pulled her cheek from Mlynar's back and let her hands go from around his waist, instead finding purchase on the grips on the side of her seat. It was less secure, but also less… Compromising. She had hoped that the Rhode Island they passed DIDN'T have Deszcz in it now.
"I wouldn't know the first place to go for food," Lavinia admitted. Truthfully this was all new to her. Everything was in such stark contrast to Siracusa, she almost felt like down was up, and right was left.
She thought of Texas, of how she had initially lived in a mobile city like this. Lavinia wondered how Siracusa must have felt like to her, the rustic architecture and almost archaic way their society was held together. But then she remembered those people who she saw huddled under bridges and in the shadows of the skyscrapers, and that sense of awe was tempered.
"There is always food available in places like these," Mlynar responded, he was more used to a city like. Kawalerilki's modern transformation was similar enough that the cultural shock wasn't too much for him, but a spark of bitterness did arise from how similar in ways it was. He thought of how this had been a source, Columbian influence clear on Kazimierzian society.
"What about that place?" Lavinia pointed to the direction of a food stand. It looked to be just opening up with the lights on, a giant sign written in Yanese and Victorian called it a "Noodle Stop" alongside with a minimalist drawing of a bowl of souped noodles. Mlynar peeled out of the traffic, making his bike stop just at the curb near the stand before getting off. Lavinia struggled a little out of her seat, legs not quite long enough but a hand was held out for her. They also also shook from the nervousness of riding on Fealty having fatigued her legs.
With his hair tousled from the wind and the goggles around his neck, as well as the softer features of his face, Mlynar's face resembles those pictures of knights that accompanied the many knightly books that Margaret and Maria recommended to her. She could see now how Mlynar was related to them as she took his hand and was helped off the bike.
They walked to the stand, moving the curtain aside to reveal a Cautus. One of his ears was docked and an eye patch, but his hands were easily cutting through the vegetables with a swiftness that showed his skill. Mlynar and Lavinia sat at the stand that already had an individual eating, her movements fast and precise.
"Umai!" the person shouted, very familiarly.
"Saga?" Lavinia asked when she saw the individual. The Perro turned towards her, a noodle slurped up before chewing and swallowing.
"Ah, greetings to thee, Lavinia and Mlynar!" Saga waved. Both Lavinia and Mlynar were quite surprised to see the monk in the city so quickly. Less surprised that she would have stopped for food. "Are thou both stopping for a meal?" Lavinia nodded before she and Mlynar sat down. "The meals given by the master here are filling and delicious! Perfect for one's health and strengthen one's mind." The Cautus chef didn't look as if he was listening, but there had been a growing redness on his face as he prepared more ingredients.
"What'd you two like?" he asked. His voice was rough and thickly accented, but he faced the two as Saga returned back to her meal. Lavinia and Mlynar looked at the menu, but found the choices too dizzying to decide. Then Lavinia saw Saga's meal. The girl had given her glowing endorsement, and so it stood to reason her choice would be fine to go with.
"We'll have the same order as hers," Lavinia said. The man nodded before turning back. In a blur of movement, the man easily began to cook their meals. Hot aromatic oil filled the small stand with a delectable foreign smell following the loud crackling of oil and the noodles. The large potpan that held such was then dashed with spices and powders before the chef expertly stirred and tossed the noodles. The smells wafting through was divine, and Lavinia's stomach growled even louder than before. She held her stomach, an abashed look on her face as Mlynar met her gaze, who only laughed into his hand.
"Order up," the Cautus said gruffly, but there was a look of pride once he heard the Lupo's stomach growl, delighted it was his food which elicited a reaction.
"Thank you graciously for the meal master!" Saga announced as she stood up and bowed, her mouth and face cleared of food scraps. Money was placed on the table before she left, she leaned over to say something to the Cautus before he nodded. The Cautus pocketed the cash before Mlynar and Lavinia ate, a smirk forming on his face that he covered when he looked to see Mlynar and Lavinia beginning to eat. Then a rueful grin appeared when he saw their enjoyment of his food.
'So flavorful!' Lavinia thought as she ate. Oilier than the pasta of Siracusa, but ladened with more herbs and a sharper taste. Mlynar muttered his own enjoyment of the food, he's had Yan dishes before, but seemed to be a pale imitation of them after trying the ones served by the Yan operators on board Rhode Island. This dish did not have the traditional tastes of Yan that Lee or Nian spoke of, but had a flavor of its own. A blend that seemed heavier but packed a punch all the same. The cook brought out a small plate of diced fried fowlbeast, cuts of swineheads, and pickled dice vegetables laced in spicy chilis shared between the two.
Both had eventually learned to use chopsticks aboard Rhode Island, it almost seemed mandatory when Feater afforded a quick hour course that felt anything but "easy chopstick learning with Feater" it espoused to be. So both were quite fine with using chopsticks, to the point that a game had started when they both reached for the first piece of fried fowlbeast. Both immediately retracted their chopsticks, eyes staring at each other briefly. Lavinia had a piece of green onion on her cheek, and Mlynar's lips were noticeably oiled up. The cook looked at them for a moment before his attention was dragged by a new customer who sat down and asked for her regular. Then between the two after that initial meeting, an almost unspoken game was played between the two. A piece of sliced swinehead was about to taken by one, only for the other to quickly snatch it away. Mlynar sent a look to Lavinia, who had a barely contained snicker hidden behind her hand as he looked at her with a look surprise, but his eyes seemed to have a look of mirth to them that was never once seen before. When she went to grab a pickled vegetable, it was taken before her chopsticks could reach it, and was quickly eaten by Mlynar. Chewing thoughtfully before he swallowed, an almost bored look on his face as his mouth was hidden from behind his wrist when he went to wipe his lips. It was on then, a game it was, a childish one but perhaps the drive had given a sense of lightness between the two. Chopsticks just barely missing contact as food was taken and then eaten. Laughter said with eyes and titillating mouths hidden behind hands before the side dishes and their main dishes were eaten to the last. Well to the last except one, that first initial piece of fried fowlbeast flesh which still stood untouched. It had been a prize it seemed, defied as almost a sort of treasure for either to claim if one got ahead of the other, but now served as a tiebreaker between the two.
Both eyed the piece, eyes darting to the other's eyes, then to their chopsticks, then to the piece of fowlflesh. Then to the other's eyes again, then their utensils descended intent on claiming the piece for their own self. Then before either could claim it, it seemed a creature came from beneath the table and claimed it for itself. Both retreated back immediately, and the last piece was quickly consumed with a satisfied "mrow".
Both stared at the creature which had eaten it, a "kitty" as Mousse had called her creatures, sat atop the cook's shoulder. He gave them a disappointed look before tapping a sign written in Victorian. "Do not play with your food". A sense of childishness overcame the both of them who ceither cleared their throat or busied themselves tidying up their section of the stand. Both did not see the eye roll of the cook, nor his own laughter hidden behind his hand as he scratched the kitty's chin who purred and buried its head under his chin before leaping off and scurrying away. Now having finished their meal, then came the conundrum as the two reached for the money pouches and stood.
"I'll pay–"
"No, allow me-"
"Nonsense, you drove–"
"And you required aid–"
"No need ta lovebirds," the Cautus said absentmindedly, already having picked up their dishes and dumped them in a sink to be cleaned when he had time.. "The lass before ya, yer friend Saga, paid for yer little lunch date already. All of it as she had said, "was a gift for both as it seems that fortune favored them today!" as she claimed it." Both shut their mouths after the Cautus' first statement, and one of the two quickly grew redder as the words continued out. The other merely stared wide eyed and let out a hiss of a breath between his teeth that was muted from the sound of frying oil. "Take this to go, old Yan tradition." A short bark of laughter came from him as two rounded crackers were handed to them on a plate.
"Uh… Ah, what is this?" Lavinia finally found her voice.
"Fortune cookies. Very potent. Don't share, not even to each other, and EAT the fortune after reading." The Cautus' tone was clipped but mirth filled. Lavinia and Mlynar would have responded but other voices came and the man pushed them out. "Get out, no loitering!" Lavinia and Mlynar were sent out of the stand as people elbowed past them to eat. There had been a red flush on Lavinia's face as she refused to meet Mlynar's eyes, as Mlynar did the same, though no blush on his face.
Instead Mlynar felt a sort of warmth in his ears as he cleared his throat. Still not making eye contact with Lavinia he motioned back to Fealty, which stood parked. A crowd of passersbys were staring in awe of the vehicle. Just from a purely aesthetic appearance it was a work of art that spoke of bespoken Kazimierzian craftsmanship, from a monetary value of it, it made the other surrounding vehicles look like scrap heaps. Both Lavinia and Mlynar made their way through the crowd and back towards Fealty as people took pictures near it, at it, or in front of it as if they owned it themselves.
"Yo check out my new ri-Hey, watch it," a loud speaking Lupo turned towards the figure that stepped into his shot and found himself only staring at chest and well muscled arms. He had to look up to see blonde hair framing a scowling expression which made the hairs on his tail stand on end. "O-Oh, my bad." The Lupo quickly moved past Mlynar before stumbling on his own shaking legs, however before he fell he was held up and helped to his feet.
"Oh man tha–" He stopped and stared with a slack jaw at the woman in front of him. Lavinia righted him up, checking him over before sending a slight reprime to Mlynar. However the Lupo was more interested in staring at the woman in front of him with the pretty clothes… And pretty features, with pretty eyes, pretty hair, and pretty big-
"Hey pretty lady, are ya single," he tried as he leaned against the light pole. Lavinia stared at the man. He was dressed like a biker, leather jacket and a strange sort of hairstyle where the front fringe was combed up like some sort of–
'It looks like a slice of Ciabatta,' Lavinia thought with a realization. Then the words of what he said reached her despite the strange accent he spoke in. It was certainly Victorian, but rougher sounding for sure.
"I, uh sorry, could you repeat that again, per favore ," Lavinia requested. A charmed smile formed on the Lupo's face.
"Oh wow, Siracusan! My grandfather was from Siracusa as well, miah signora," the Lupo said with the roughest Siracusan accent that graced Lavinia's ears. She sent him a strangled look, brows furrowed as she heard her first language so… interestingly spoken.
"No, Victorian is fine, but I must go," she said as she tried to move past him. However the Lupo man simply moved in front of her again. She tried going the other way, and the man simply mimed her motions.
"Come on signora, at least tell me your name," he asked as he moved closer. Lavinia took a step back, not out of fear, but more so surprise at how forward someone could be. She was used to be given a certain sense of distance, even on Rhodes where it seemed the distance shrunk, this man in front of her went right over her boundaries. And she was… Not at all for this.
"A beautiful lady like you must have a beautiful–" A hand gripped his shoulder and he looked to see Lavinia starring at him with her pretty eyes. Only now her pretty eyes were narrowed in harsh lines and even harsher glare. "Eh?"
"Please, I implore you to not stand in my way," her hand gripped his shoulder tightly and he felt her nails dig through the leather of his jacket and into the skin of his shoulder. He let out a sharp shout of pain before she let go and he instinctively jumped out of the way. She walked past him now, and over towards the impossibly tall Kuranata man who sat on the beautiful bike.
"N-No way," he said as the man reached into the internal compartment to grab a helmet, but a hand and unheard words from the Lupo woman had him put it away as she instead grabbed the sunglasses which had been so snugly nestled on her neckline over her eyes. The Kuranta man sat on the seat, keying the ignition before gunning the engine. A loud roar came from the engine as many stared in shock and awe at the power that the bike radiated, and even more so with the rider who sat on top of it.
Clad in black save for the radiant gold of his hair and eyes, he extended a hand to help the beautiful Lupo woman to step over the bike and seat herself behind him. She scooted in a little closer, making it so her tail did not get beneath her nor at risk of the rear wheel. She seemed to hesitate a bit before she scooted even closer and held the man close, much to the wolf whistles and ooh's of the men and women who saw them. Then the motorcycle's engine roared once more before the two took off as the Lupo who tried to flirt with Lavinia let out a frustrated shout.
"She was taken already!?"
-L&L-
Mlynar and Lavinia rode in silence after their lunch. The food sat well with them, but the messages after, Lavinia shook her head as she recalled some of the words she heard. Then scowled when she remembered that other Lupo. Thinking about it now, she realized he was attempting to flirt with her. Which was… A strange thought to think about.
She was by no means a stranger to romance. A lover or two in her younger years. Her teen years were a whirlwind when her association with the Bellone family had started alongside school. A few kisses shared beneath a tree or stolen in empty room, but her work and education as a Judge in Siracusa had come first. Eventually romantic trysts and love seemed so… foreign to her. Love in general seemed to be in short supply if held at all in Siracusa now that she thought about it. How could love exist in a nation where blood flowed as easily as coins. No she had seen how it would have ended, much like many other stories in Siracusa, in tragedy.
But now, she wasn't in Siracusa anymore. She wasn't even on Rhode Island anymore, and then she remembered Mostima's cryptic words.
'With a mix of people, means a mix of personalities, which means a mix of foods, and cultures. And philosophies. A mix of chances too.' Words that sounded like nonsense when Lavinia had first heard them in relation to coming to New Orange, but now seemed to ring true to her. What she saw was not Siracusa, nothing she had ever seen in person, she could scarcely believe she was still on Terra with how high the buildings raised, nor with how steel and concrete seemed to dominate the actual cities. From the outside, the rolling farms of seemed akin to the many outlying agricultural communities of Siracusa, but within the cities proper walls, it was another world entirely.
Columbia. The nation of progress… Lavinia thought as she held onto the bike. Going at a cruising speed, but still carried fast by the easy maneuvering of Mlynar's driving, Lavinia had not needed to grab onto the driver to keep herself steady, able to instead grab the seat's underside, but with his current bearing hadn't needed to do that either. Instead her head was free to look at the sights of New Orange. Without her helmet, she was also able to get a better sight, and what sights they were.
Tall sky scraping buildings with bright neon billboards of advertising products, services, whatever one could want or not want. She saw people, so many different types of people. Those in suits walking to and from buildings. Those of the law, with clubs on their waists and badges of their office on their lapels or their waists, eyeing the streets and walking the beat, but moving with an air of ease that one would have with confidence of their own authority. She had machines fly overhead, going between areas intent on delivering messages as well as people on bicycles pedaling fast against the sidewalk and maneuvering through the throngs of people as Mlynar did with the cars on the road.
She saw Lupos, Kurantas, Felines, Sankta, Liberi, Felines, Elafia, Fortes, Perros, Pythias, all manner of Ancients talking in Victoria, but also in their own mother languages. She heard accented Siracusa, nicer and more pleasant sounding than how that man before had attempted to speak to her. She heard the words and way that Mlynar spoke, Kazimierzian, amongst a group of men in suits and tired eyes that seemed to have once shared Mlynar's in terms of tiredness. She had heard Yanese arguments, Higashian laughter, and even Ursan chorus of a song of some kind. Such a vibrant and expanded city that was as alien to Siracusa as the depths of a body of water was to land.
And when as the days grew long and the sun began to fall behind the tall buildings, casting an auburn than a greenish blue hue across the sky, how the land still stayed alight. Lights that made the night seem an afterthought as the sky above remained an inky blackness dominated by the radiance of Terra's two moons, but seemed to shrink in their luminescence in the face of the streets of New Orange.
In a word, Lavinia would simply have called it incandescent. When night hit in Siracusa, it was as dark as the moons allowed it. Perhaps some street lights, little more than focused candles, kept the streets illuminated, but it was not meant to be traversed by the common people as it was in Columbia. No here, all walked in the night as if it were still day.
Mlynar felt his jaw tighten at the brightness of it all. He was reminded too much of Kazimierz, of Kawaleriekli. Of their bright lights, a pale imitation of Columbia, but seeing the progenitor of it soured him more. He felt an oppressive air and saw more than a number of notable Kazimierizian branch offices in the city.
He was glad the route they took to the hotel seemed to move away from the heart of the city. They had both stopped by an area called Long Acre square where it seemed the highest of New Orange's buildings lay, alongside the brightest and loudest of advertisements. He saw from his own glaring eyes the sight of a Kuranta woman, perhaps in an attempt of a likeness to Margaret, drinking from a sports bottle in workout gear. She posed with the bottle, a tagline reading in full gold saying "Illuminate your system with Light Shine! The best workout drink, fit for a champion!" He felt a growing cloud of darkness overtake him that took the whole trip to the hotel general location to temper away. Their abode was well away from the rampant noise and hustle and bustle of New Orange, of which Mlynar was thankful for. Lavinia had noted how the place they went seemed to have had instances of… Siracusan touches. Red bricked buildings, higher than any in Siracusa would be, but the dizzying heights of steel and glass that many buildings in New Orange was. She spotted and smelled bakeries of bread, pizza, and pasta. She saw people greet eachother in the Siracusan manner, a kiss on the cheek, but also something she didn't hear in Siracusa. She heard arguments that ended in laughter rather than blood and screams. She saw children playing in the street, only fleeing when a car would patiently stop and wait for them to finish instead of gunning through. She felt a dizzying sense of deja vu as much as she felt an unsettling alineness as such a sight.
It was like Siracusa. Like Siracusa, not Siracusa itself. Like Siracusa…
"How much longer till we reach the Blue Luna Hotel?" Lavinia asked. She did not realize how fast she could grow accustomed to this method of transportation. Though technically she was not driving it, she did find herself less scared than she initially was. She did not know if it was due to Mlynar's skill as a driver, or perhaps the liberating feeling of "feeling the wind in her hair". Perhaps a bit of both if she was being honest. Mlynar's driving skills had been apparent on the mission when she saw him go for long periods without a break, easily avoiding most of the obscure bumps in the road that made the ride smoother than when she, or Fiametta, or Ezel drove.
"We're getting closer. Only a few more minutes." Neither had spoken much while they rode on Fealty, it was difficult too when Lavinia had worn the helmet, and when they were on the more open roads of the New Orange exterior settlements. Now when the roads were quieter and the whine of Fealty nothing more than an occasional chug, words could be more easily said between the two.
"Have you been to a Columbian city before?" Lavinia asked. Mlynar continued driving for a bit, and she had initially thought he didn't hear her before he responded.
"Once, a long time ago. It was not this one. It was… Smaller."
"What was that city's name?"
"Chiberia. It was more industrial than this. More factories than skyscrapers."
"Sky-scrapers," Lavinia repeated the word. She felt it appropriate, it did seem like this buildings scraped at the sky. "What for?"
"A business trip," Mlynar started. "Materials from Kazimierz to be delivered to Columbia in exchange for new equipment. It was… interesting, that city."
"How so?"
"It always had clouds, but no rain. Dark clouds that seemed to have come from the very heart of the city, but never rain. But the people, they had a smile as they worked their industrial jobs." Mlynar recalled the memory. His first and only business trip that he taken outside of Kazimierz, he had been younger then. He'd only taken care of the two only a year prior, and it seemed that the company at the time saw his name as a potential token in negotiations due to the CEO of the Columbian company had fought in the Kazimierizan-Ursan war all those years ago, before emigrating to Columbia… It had not been helpful and hurried home to Kazmierz once business concluded.
"Ah, we're here," Mlynar said as their hotel came into view. A quaint building, perhaps four stories high with a wooden exterior finish. It did not seem a luxurious business hotel, and frankly speaking, Mlynar would prefer it not be. It was… rustic in a modern sense he saw it. With the wood seemingly trying to evoke the feeling of a log cabin and the candles in the front providing a softer light as opposed the streetlights which had dwindled in number as they had gotten closer to the hotel, trading in electrical lights with older looking lanterned posts amongst trees which lined the roads.
Despite the night that quickly overtaken the day, it was only five o'clock. The lights of the reception desk were on and it seemed the earlier Rhode Island shuttles which had left earlier than them had made it before Mlynar, beating the inner traffic perhaps instead of relying on maneuvering past cars. Mylar had parked the bike in an area that seemed attached the hotel, looked on by a big Forte man in a uniform who gestured to the reception. Lavinia had also gotten off, but waited for him to grab his belongings, out of politeness before both entered the reception. The lights were initially blinding, as the brightness starkly contrasted the darker exterior, but upon getting used to it, both were met with the sound of a crackling fire place and a homely decorated interior. Uniformed individual ran luggage carts to and from the reception area and lead guests, both Rhode Island individuals and other people to rooms.
Lavinia noted that Deszcz hadn't arrived yet, but had received a text message from her saying - kill me with this traffic - as well as a picture showing her and Provence laying in the back of the shuttle with a few others with dead expression amongst a myriad of cars in front and behind their shuttle.
"Next please." Lavinia pocketed her terminal before walking forward. Mlynar stood behind her, waiting for his turn as she approached the receptionist, a rather cutely dressed Elafina woman with a pierced horn. "Name please."
"Lavinia. Lavinia Falcone," she said. The Elafina woman typed it in with a few deft clicks of her fingers on the keys of her terminal.
"Letter of attendance please?" she asked. Lavinia nodded before reaching into her bag and… nothing. She reached into her jacket pockets and… nothing again. She reached in her jacket's inner pockets and… the cookie, but also nothing once more. She felt her mouth dry and her heartbeat in her ears as she did her best to keep calm and search her person as patiently as possible. "Letter of attendance ma'am?"
"Ah, just one second, I know I have it…" she said, buying time. She searched her bag again, opening it with both hands before looking in it. Inside was her mace, but that wouldn't help now. She thought about it, but then shook her head. It definitely wouldn't. Then her mind recalled to when she had left Deszcz at Rhode Island shuttle ramp.
"Hold onto my Letter, if I have both, I'll just get confused and might end up giving Mlynar mine."
"Copy that, hurry back though!"
She felt the blood drain from her face as she realized where and WHO the Letter was with.
"Letter of Attendance ma'am?" The Elafina asked again, this time she turned her chair towards Lavinia who tried to figure out what to say. But here she was, speechless. A judge like her, speechless. It was unheard of, but all her ideas and tactics to try and extend her time were useless here. She opened her mouth, but instead of her voice, another's came instead. One who's deep tones she's become familiar with.
"Here it is," Mlynar said as he extended his own Letter of Attendance. He had seen her floundering and approached out of a sense of help only to hear the woman ask for Lavinia's Letter of Attendance. He did not need to have a trained sense to see the issue at hand as Lavinia looked lost and defeated.
"Hmm, this seems to be only listed as one."
"Ah, apologies, but Miss Lavinia Falcone is my associate, I'm sure that coworkers would not have so much of an issue sharing a room?" Mlynar said, his voice rumbling in a tact manner he had spoken like when he used to work for his old company. The voice of a salesman as his old coworkers called it. The Elafina woman looked at him as he gave her a small smile, though this was somewhat unintentional, as it had been trained in him like conditioning from his time at the company. "The company will easily compensate you for your troubles if need be, but I assure you we are good for it."
"Oooh, aint' you a charmer sugar. Welp, if you two are so fine with it," she gushed as she looked at the two. She quickly signed it before filing it away before grabbing two keys. "Room 6 for ya hon, and you too dear. Have a happy stay now!" Mlynar and Lavinia quickly took the keys as they both quietly made their way out of the lobby. A bellboy offered to lead them, but both had assured him that they knew the way. There was a quick glance for another Rhode Island employee who noted them move past, wondering when those two got in, but before he could respond, he was distracted by a bellhop asking if he needed help moving his belongings.
Mlynar and Lavinia eventually found… The room, and opened the door to it. Flicking the lights on, both stepped into the foyer's quickly and shut the door behind them. The room itself was smaller than the shared penthouse that they had shared in Sargon, but that had the understanding of an extended party. This one had probably anticipated a single person, but it seemed that this was maybe meant to house two as both Lavinia and Mlynar noted the two sets of complementary toiletries that sat on the big two person bed that lay in one area of the room. The attached kitchenette and bathroom lay ajar and likewise shared the same twin complementary offerings.
"I, I uh, bagno , I mean, bathroom. I will need to use that," Lavinia sputtered by. Mlynar nodded mutely as Lavinia kicked off her boots and quickly made her way to the bathroom, locking the door. She turned on the lights and the fan before breathing deeply through her mouth and nose, trying to calm her beating heart and reddening face.
This was not in her plans. Not her in plans at all. She did not account for this, and did not know how to think of this. Instead she felt something crunch in her jacket pocket, and remembered the uneaten "fortune cookie" that the Yanese cook had given them. She reached inside her jacket for it and found that one half had broken off and revealed a slip of paper. She pulled it out as she munched on the slightly sweet cookie, noting its hard but crunchy texture as she read the words written on the paper.
'Opportunities lay abound! Have no fear and seize them!' She let out a low whine as she collapsed with her head in her hands.
"I cannot tell Deszcz this," she whispered. She didn't even bother to read the message Deszcz sent again.
-Soooooo boooooooooreeeeeeeddddd. I hope we have neighboring rooms though!-