Mayuko Nise was content, maybe even…happy. The blonde haired half-foreign Japanese girl wasn't quite…used…to this pleasant feeling, mixed with that of being pleasantly warm, and perhaps a little pleasantly inebriated maybe. A fire burned merrily in the fireplace 'hearth' as Big Orc Boss Tarvek insisted on calling it, while really cool fake windows showed, and sounded like, the snowy blizzard blowing outside the super-secret cave base. Because, of course, they had a super-secret cave base…that looked like some weird jumble of cool high-tech stuff, Sengoku era and cavemen bits all mixed together. Maybe western viking too, maybe?

"Hmmmm…" she stretched out, allowing her slippers to fall off unto the ground while she adjusted herself out on the couch beside the big not-a-pigman orc. Mayuko's current clothing choices were ugly…largely because they seemed to be Janet's stored clothes. And Janet was an old woman, with an old grandma's sense of what was fashionable at that. Which was why Mayuko was now in an ugly camo-marked t-shirt that was too big for her, and a part of shorts that were equally horrid. She choose not to voice that quiet yet, taking up the weird honey drink and asking about the fire "Why a fire in the secret base? And, like, won't that be seen outside…uh, through the chimney I mean?"

"Ah?" the big, blunt, boss sort of hummed before answering, motioning at it with the honey-beer-whatever giant glass mug in his hand at the fire "Oh, a real fire in a real hearth is better! Just is. An, well, there be no chimney there. S'fake. Goes up and…into an artifice. Stores heat an' the ash and da' smoke"

Mayuko took a gulp of her own, tilting her head as if studying the fireplace, bringing bare legs up under her on the couch as it was so comfortable "Why?"

"I'n'know, just…find a use for probably. Smoke bombs, yeah…can use in those?" the answer sounded more question than statement of fact, as if he was considering it only now. He sighed, resting back on the couch beside her, about an arm's length away "Nothin' wrong with havin' a good fire in the hearth. Good even ta' clean it out. Keeps idle hands busy. Too much button pressin' in life"

"Our great and glorious leader may come from a super advanced society Mayuko, with magic flying boats and probably techno-unicorns" Janet interjected from the other side, sounding sleeping and as full as Mayuko felt. It had been a real feast after all, the remains of which was on the table in front of them, from which she could nibble if she still wished "Can travel dimensions! And…wants to live like a lumberjack or hunter-gatherer!"

"Hmmm, heh" came the amused grunt from beside Mayuko as she voice "Don't think I'd like that, and this place isn't…like, primitive? It's awesome even!"

And it was! There was a bloody hotsprings and super magic kitchen and funky looking computers…

"Ah, not living primitive as you put it Janet. Tech is good, I like things that aid such. But, well, s'not health for a folk to rely too heavy on such things. Use it, yeah, that's good. But when a folk get weak like that…"

Tarvek took a drink, then rested it back "Bad for a folk…mean a society or people. Make'em soft, make'em cruel too, over time. League seen it many times. Mostly bad when it does"

"So…place like dis here then?" she had to asked, waving her now near empty mug-glass about to gesture "Like a, dunno, fancy place but caveman-y in middle of woods?"

"Hnn, not quite. My clan lived in hills…um, a large village by your understandings" the big red boss man came back with, considering, pausing "Iff'in were a choice…I'd like a castle in the woods. Mountainous forests. Near a town, but not too near. Then can study and stuff in peace, but can travel when need"

Mayuko blinked….that sounded pretty cool actually "That sounds awesome! I'd like castle too! With a BIGGGG walk-in wardroom! Full of the finest shoes!"

Tarvek gave a snort at that, Janet chuckling "Clothes too"

Mayuko gave grunt of agreement, though getting to leaning forward and grabbing another of the bottles to fill up her glass "Yeah, and…like this. I like this place. Is this how it is in your home?"

"Yes…no, somewhat?" the big boss shrugged "Clan-hold was bit more…old fort? But, it was somewhat. More monsters about still, not like here, or your planes. Not same everywhere in the planes of the League. Some were very like your realms in the past. Some are more warrior, some more scholar, others more traders an' such"

Mayuko listened, interested as she took a bit of chip-things of some sort into hand "So, humans and stuff…wait, so orcs live different? And are there many of you an' that?"

"Humans live different to other humans. Orcs live different to other orcs. Some orcs. Not…" she watched him scratch at his stubbly black beard, than motioned in the air with his hand "Not so'many Red Orc. Most'em be grey or green or…green-grey. Orsimer too, they greenies and greyies too, but different stock. Live different too. Not big on big clans or even settlements. Just strongholds ah' one big family, maybe two"

"Oh?" Janet sounded curious, and maybe drunk "We never got to talk about that. What you mean?"

"Different humans. Different orcs" he answered, doing another side-to-side hand motion "Orsimer Orc from different plane than Skartaris Orcs like this red orc here. They got elfie blood even…yeah, but they live…"

"Hmm" he paused, think "Like lions or that. Big chief, marry all females, and all live together. No other clan, just sons and daughters an' maybe brothers and sisters. None others. Just big band of wives and childers…thens…"

He gave snorted in amusement "Theys got elfie blood. Can live very long time…but they don't. Sons grow up, they suppose fight and kill theys Da. Then…theys brings in all the wives, and have sons and on and on and on"

"That's…" Janet sounded…Mayuko wasn't sure. Annoyed? Disgusted? Confused? "…not pleasant?"

"Ugh" was all Mayuko could say to agree or disagree as the idea confused her. Sounded sort of manga, maybe?

Tarvek shrugged "Orsimer Orcs are so'weird. Me friends say they tryin' breed super-orcs by doin that sort of thing. They always fightin on their world…well, we always fightin' on Skartaris too and New Skartaris, but they always fightin' on their world of Malca-whatevers, even when few of'em. Not all of them like that. Some even sort of normal…"

"Are yours like that?" Janet asked, sounding offended maybe "Big harems of helpless girls?"

"Orsimers females not helpless. Fuckin' mad and always fightin' they are" came the odd, laughing, response "But, no? Yes? Skartaris humans live same as us orcs. Strong leaders have strong wives, and more than one often. Not always. Some marry one-one like your folk. Many human planes do same. Your folk the weird"

Mayuko looked as Janet who took a drink, looking curious or confused "Hmm?"

"Western heritage humans. Humans often go other way. Not always nicest when they do. League doesn't usually like'em. Trade House Lords try, but…well, troubles with American dominant planes too I guess. So, eh" Tarvek chuckled sleepily or drunkenly "Maybe just bad diplo"

"So, you had many moms?" Mayuko asked…which sounded awful. Her mom was always hitting her after all, so more than one, sounded…ugh…

"Oh, don't sound so offended" the big boss said with a snort of amusement "Had one for me, but Da had two wives. Didn't know Urkina, she were killed when I was but a whelp. War with the Mags. He was married my Ma before that. All friends or something? Never really asked. Got a few brothers and sisters. They were older, so was eager learn and earn me own way. Pay back the Clan. Serve a strong House. All that"

Mayuko…actually quite liked that about the Boss man. He was, like, blunt about shit like that. He was honest with her, not like all the 'oh, I just want to help!' liars back home. People she'd never have to see ever again thanks to him. No, Boss man seemed to tell it as it is, and was blunt that he'd care for her and protect her, but that it was a two-way trade too. None of that lies and pretend all the fake-ass goody-too-shoes gave "You don't like…challenge your Da for the harem or sumin like these…Ors-burs, get the house or whatever?"

"Fuck no" came the blunt laughter "We ain't no kinslayers like that lot! Runnin' bout killin their fathers an' fuckin their sisters. Lord in shadows we be civilized orcs instead!"

Mayuko asked the important question "Do they have hotsprings?"

"Don't think so"

"Okay, damn those savages!" she murmured with a yawn at the answer, Janet give a cough or maybe chuckle of amusement after all "Boo them!"

"That's your problem?"

"My family were awful" she said back to Janet, laying her head against the Boss dude's arm "So, that too. Didn't have a brother either, but pretty sure wouldn't want marry him if I did either"

"Some human planes do that. Royals an' stuff" came the weird interjection from the Boss "Their usually so'weird an' awful too. Usually fer magic an' stuff due to bloodline. Though even the Magus don't do that, and those humans are crazy!"

"Magus?" Janet asked curiously.

"Humans…mostly. Bunch joined back in the early days. Their dimension went poof! Anyway, they marry for magic blood-power and…and reasons. Reasons I'm drunk to care about now"

"Your home sounds weird"

"Diverse, and also crazy" he answered her "Different planes, different rules, different thinking. The League Charter is about lettin' everyone do own thing in their own nations. Even when ya think their awful. After all, worse things out there. Better too, but it's the worse ones to worry about"

Mayuko yawned, feeling safe as she closed her eyes. It was so warm and comfortable, as the wind and snow howled on the screens showing the outside "Still weird Boss"

But weird wasn't bad…