Upon arrival, Umeko was taken immediately to the medical station. This left Anisa with some time and that means meeting up with her brother to put the orb safely in a trunk and fill him in on the details. It wasn't long after that, that Gibson was called away to assist with one more translation section with the usual Eeee, Dragonfly. So, that has left Anisa alone now for a couple hours. Nothing sane the various ticks and mutterings around the ship keep her company.

That is, until there is a light rapping upon the Lapi's door.

Ticks, mutterings – and stashed away romance novels, that is. Laying down on her back with head hanging partially off the edge, Anisa currently has her always twitching nose buried in one of her books, reading it upside down while she idly twitches her oversized toes. "It's open," she calls out, not bothering to look away from the tome or pull herself upright.

The door eases open and out of the corner of her eyes Anisa can see a flash of gold scale and purple zolk. "I am not interrupting you, am I?" follows the accented voice of Umeko where she now stands near the entryway. "I can return later if this is a bad time."

Anisa lets her arms – and the book – fall to the floor, and she smiles at the currently upside-down figure of Kin. "Not at all," she says, letting go of the book, which falls to the floor with a 'thump'. "I'm just killing time, and trying not to be killed by boredom." The doe raises her legs back, then kicks herself upright, swiveling herself around with a few bounces on the mattress. "Come on in and take a load off."

Umeko peers down at herself for a moment and feels around her waist. "I am not carrying a load," she finally says with a tinge of confusion in her voice. The Kiriga does take the offer to sit, though, as she slips over to the bed with delicate steps, movement out of place on a woman who was not so long ago in the throes of battle and pain. She settles down onto the bed as her long tail snakes across the floor. Quietly, it slips into the fallen book. She lifts it up and drops it lightly into her lap. As her golden hands come to rest atop its cover, she asks, "How are you feeling? Have you recovered from the battle?"

On the cover of the book, Umeko spies two Rhians – one a gray, spotted female wearing a revealing yet flowing white dress, being held firmly by the other – a very muscular and very shirtless black coated male. The title reads, "L'Amour Chevaux" – it must be Gallisan. "Oh, you know me, never met a fight I didn't like." The doe smiles, then looks away while rubbing her elbow. "How about you? Are you feeling better after um… after… you know."

Umeko's brow ridge raises a bit as she looks over the cover. Unable to resist, she starts flipping through the book, idly reading bits and pieces, or at least trying to. "I have twinges of pain now and then, and odd feelings … like like something crawling under my skin. But, the head doctor on board assured me that internally I am fine," the Kiriga answers after a bit of thought. "I have been told there should be no need for concern on any harmful long term effects … but to keep them apprised aware of any changes. Internally I am fine, but things 'feel' different, according to the doctor. I could not get anything more definite than that." One of her claws tapping on a page lightly, Umeko looks over, then asks, "How did you know … accelerating the changes would be the key to victory over Hakuu?"

Anisa grimaces, looking away in embarrassment as her ears fall backwards. "I, um, didn't," she says, rubbing her neck with a paw. "I figured that Hakuu wanted to use the orb on you, and he knew something that we didn't – that you'd be able to survive it where others haven't. The orb told me that some people survive it, and it gave me clues that you would, but ultimately, I didn't know for certain. I took… I took a gamble." A look of shame crosses the doe's face.

Umeko's eyes settle on the doe for a rather uncomfortable minute. "And it was a good one. I was losing that fight, Anisa. If something had not have changed the tide … well, I was going to try to walk off the edge of the platform and send us both to our deaths," she says as she closes the book in her lap again. "I could not afford to lose that fight. So, even if it had killed me, you would have spared me a worse fate as his art." And at that, the Kiriga actually reaches over and hooks her fingers under Anisa's chin. With a gentle pull, she tries to get the Lapi to look towards her.

"Maybe so, but I had no right to-" Anisa looks at Umeko in surprise at the touch, startled, her ears shooting upright.

"Do you consider yourself my friend?" Umeko asks as she withdraws her hand.

"Of course," Anisa says without hesitation. "Which is why I feel terrible about what I did."

"Don't. You always have the right to try to help me. You made a decision based on what you knew and with very little time to make it. I am not angry at you over it," the reptile says gently. Her brow ripples a bit before Umeko continues, "I will not lie and say it did not hurt and was not terrifying, though. I have never felt anything like it before. It was a strange sensation … to feel my body reshape. So were the instincts that awoke. I learned that at some point in my species past, we had fangs and venom."

"You devolved," Anisa says with a nod, "that's what the Cinders want to do to everyone – take them back to their 'pure roots', or whatever nonsense they like to spout off. I told the orb to only take you halfway, so who knows what you would have been like if it had completely finished. I think that's what Hakuu had intended for you all along." The doe shrugs, still looking rather dour. "I feel like on some level, I was doing what he wanted all along, and that makes it even worse."

Outside, footsteps can be heard echoing down the hall, along with the sound of light singing. The tune is a little disjointed, as if the singer were still feeling the song out, still working out the details. "What does it mean to be, when you're alone," the singer sings, "what does it mean to be, with no family, and no home." A pause, and the singer asks herself, "Is that too corny?"

"Hakuu died happy," Umeko admits, "He got to see his greatest 'work'." At that, the Kiriga shrugs a bit, then continues, "I'm not quite sure he expected his masterpiece to be so … deadly, though. Perhaps a lesson in 'be careful what you wish for'." Webbed ears flick as the voice reaches the room and she looks towards the door. "I had thought I would be happy with Hakuu dead. But in truth, I am not."

Anisa's ears swivel to the door, but her gaze remains with Umeko. "Why not? I mean, death's never a fun thing… but he did cause you quite a bit of grief."

"Because … I had not planned beyond that moment. I … expected to die down there," The Kiriga admits, it being her turn to deliberately avoid someone's eyes. "I'm not sure what will happen to me now. The General informed me that I have been explicitly requested to come to the capitol, under escort of the Equalizer itself."

One can imagine a shrug in the silence, for the singer goes on, "Being is more than what we are. Being is about who we live for, who they are. You can wish upon a star to be the world, it's too far … It's … " Another pause, and a sigh. "No, that's not right either."

Well, I guess now is the time to plan," Anisa says with a soft smile, "or just take it as it comes. Planning for death is admittedly a lot easier – but not quite as fun." The doe pats Umeko's hand with a paw. "Maybe being requested is a good thing – the lizard king guy seemed really impressed by you before."

Umeko quirks that odd reptilian grin of hers. "Death is also less scary to plan for. At least … it is for me, because it is inevitable." That grin fades, though, and the Kiriga rolls her head back around to look at Anisa, adding, "And the request probably is a good thing, but … I expect my family to be there. I am not sure what I would say to my parents, Lord Seika and and Lady Rin of House Tsuguri. It sounds stupid but … it's easier to face monsters than the disapproval of my family. I've never been what they wanted. As much as I try to pretend that does not bother me … it does. But, I cannot live a lie and be what they want, either."

The steps get closer, until they're right outside the door. Scratching can be heard, a pencil on parchment, and then there's a rap at the door. "Um, Kinny? Anisa? … Gibson?" Definitely Lilac. Besides the sing-song human voice, no one else calls the Governess 'Kinny.'

"Oh wow, does that sound familiar." Anisa plops backwards onto the bed, stretching out. Luckily, she's small enough that Umeko loses no space at all. "I don't exactly fit the mold of a proper Lapi lady myself, and I know my family gets irritated by it at times, but I never doubt for a second that they love me, so it all evens out." She looks up to Kin over her big feet. "I bet your parents are the same way – they're just trapped by what antiquity has deemed 'correct', and think you'll be happier if you conform. In their own weird way, they're doing what they think is best for you."

Anisa looks over to the door. "Come on in and join the party – fresh out of booze though!"

"My heart tries to tell me that," Umeko comments as her tail curls around her waist with a serpentine ripple. And with a wan smile, she adds, "It is just … once I would like to see pride in their eyes. Approval. My family has never told me they were proud of me. But, there may be truth in what you say. It is not the way of my people to show such emotions. So, perhaps I ask to much of them in this as well." Her attention shifts back to the door for a moment.

Lilac pops her head inside, her ears going askew. "Oh, you are here. I asked the crew, and they said you came this way Kinny." As she talks, her eyes search the room. Neither Umeko nor Anisa seem to be what she's looking for, because she looks right past them. When she seems satisfied with her examination, she scoots inside and closes the door. "Hi! I had hoped my singing didn't kill any of you. My lyrics need work."

"They were not so horrid as to curl my mane this time at least," Umeko offers the human. Her expression is impassive and tone flat.

Anisa places her paws behind her head, crossing her feet at the ankles lazily. "Its more important that you be proud of yourself – after all, just look at what you've accomplished. The good pride I mean, not the arrogant kind. I bet they're proud of you anyway – but like you said, they just can't really show it." The doe looks to Lilac. "Nope, still kicking."

The bardess's ears wilt. "Oh, well, that's good," she tells Umeko, meekly. "Um, well, I'm not interrupting, am I? Hey, is that Gallisan?" She points at the book in Umeko's hands.

"I am. We've brought peace to this land for now and stopped the Cinders for a time. I have also gained many friends and shared things I had never thought possible," Umeko notes, ears flicking back a bit sheepishly, "And finding moments to act completely uncivilized with the Savanites was not … " Her stops at the question about the book, now reminded she holds it. Looking down to it, she answers, "I believe so. It is a strange book. The part about throbbing bodies was a bit … confusing. A curious way to wrestle, I think."

Anisa's ears turn bright red at Umeko's words, and she swivels them away from view. "Erm, just some… light reading… " She looks back to Kin. "Do you plan on trying to see the Savanites again?"

Lilac suddenly covers her mouth, blinking, her ears shooting up. Muffled giggling ensues, but she at least tries to hide it. "I see," she mumbles after a moment. The bardess then seems really interested in looking at a wall.

"I do, yes. Xander sent word that I wish to meet with them," Umeko answers. "I wish, well, that Long-Shadow could come with us. But … this is his home and I do not want to inflict more danger upon him. But, I at least wish to see him and say goodbye for now and to thank him for everything. After all my people did to his, he still opened his heart to me. The poetry of an unlikely friendship as we developed is not something I want to lose."

Umeko then offers the book to Lilac, noting, "It was, ah, page one-hundred and twenty-three, I believe. It started with the male flexing his 'muscle' as it was written. Very strange. Maybe you will understand it better."

"Spotties don't get treated the best outside of your lands either," Anisa says, scooting back and sitting upright. "I guess whenever our lives calm down, you could see him more often."

"You never know," Lilac says, a hint of a giggle remaining in her voice. "I don't actually speak Gallisan, but they're our neighbors, and, well, trying to take over our country at the moment. Plus, their stuff is everywhere." After accepting the book, she begins flipping through pages, ears swiveling forward.

"Its in Standard," Anisa says, pointing to the book. "I think it was translated from Gallisan, but sometimes they just give them Gallisan titles."

"Has anyone ever just made you smile when you saw him, Anisa?" Umeko asks as she scoots back now and draws her legs up. "It was like all my problems fell away when I was around him."

Lilac's eyes scan the page, and her ears wiggle a little. "Oh, definitely Gallisan. "My love for you is as eternal as the sun itself," yep, definitely Gallisan. You'd think a people who write so many romance novels could stop attacking other people. I guess you can't judge a book by its cover!" She then chuckles at her own joke, and flips another page.

Anisa's face grows wistful, but she just shrugs with a smile. "I've met a few guys that I've liked over the years, but none have really been able to do that to me. I hope I meet someone like that some day – I envy you for it." She nudges the Kiriga with a toe, grinning.

"Kinny gets all the guys," Lilac remarks, her eyes still on the book.

Umeko counters the nudge of a toe by deftly trying to tickle the bottom of the Lapi's foot with her tail up. "Well, maybe it happened for me because I let myself be vulnerable. That is not something easily done. It is … comfortable behind shields," the Kiriga offers, then shrugs slightly.

"When you're a Lapi, you feel vulnerable all the time," Anisa says, snatching her foot back. "I wonder what my ancestors looked like. I doubt they had claws and fangs like yours. I was tempted to see if the orb would make me stronger too, but somehow, I doubted it would."

"Show me how to use it and I will have it revert you fifty percent?" Umeko offers, now grinning a bit fangily.

"I don't know," says the human, flipping pages again. "I mean, romance is okay and all, but … I just don't know." She shakes her head, ears going askew. Then her eyes stop scanning the pages, staring forward as her ears wilt and a frown creases her face. She closes her eyes a moment, then shakes her head. "Oh, the orb. I meant to ask about that," she mentions, sounding a little deflated now.

Anisa grins lopsidedly. "With my luck, I'd end up like Beshret, so I'll pass for now." The doe looks up to Lilac. "What did you need to know?"

"And speaking of the orb … it seemed like you heard it say things? Is that what happened?" Umeko asks as she glances to Lilac … now clearly thinking on the orb too.

Lilac glances back telling Umeko, "I didn't hear anything. I only heard the Temple. It looked like only Anisa, the mage, and Vandringer could hear it, and I'm not even sure about that. What I really want to know is how they're used; what they're capable of and why they exist. You see, I know where another one is."

Anisa nods to Kin. "Its like the crystal… it can speak to me, but its weird. I can't really explain it – its like they're alive, but they aren't." She scratches an ear in thought. "I don't know why I can speak to it and others can't – I know it has to do with the crystal, but I don't know why I of all people can use it. Gibson's told me that the Curators have tried to use it before, but it wouldn't work for them, they only seem to work for me and Vandringar so far." The doe shrugs to Lilac. "All I do is talk to it and hope it understands me, as for all that other… wait a minute." The doe's ears perk up. "You know where there's another one?"

"Did you ask it what it was trying to do to me? Is that how you knew it was trying to devolve me?" the Kiriga asks next. She glances to Lilac again, but remains silent on that subject for now.

"That sounds a lot like talking to the Temple," Lilac muses. Her head cocks to the side, and she puts the book in her lap after she takes a seat. "Only, the Temple was alive. It's just, it was very focused on one thing and one thing only. I think Dragonfly described it best when she told me it was all business. That's all it understood. Now that I think about it, I think it could use the Aspect Orb of Being, too, or maybe the orb just lent it its power for as long as the orb wanted the Temple to live." The woman frowns at that, but presses on. "As for the orb, yes, I know where one is. I get, um, dreams now and then, about a Korv woman, and her life. In the dreams, I learned how to control my transformations, and other things. In the last one I had, I even pulled Kinny into it, and we saw a shadowy Korv woman who had … " And here, Lilac leans forward. Apparently, even in serious matters, she can't resist dramatic effect, "an orb of pure darkness."

"The orb killed me," Umeko offers. Not quite as dramatic as Lilac.

"It killed the who Kinny was in the dream," Lilac insists, sounding very uncomfortable. "And I told you it'd be dangerous! You're so suicidal!"

"You wanted to let someone else die," Umeko counters. "It is cowardly to send someone to their deaths when you can prevent it."

Anisa shakes her head at Kin. "It just started saying things like 'sample' and 'chance of failure' and stuff like that. I knew what the Cinders were after, so I had to put two and two together." The doe's nose twitches as she takes the information about the dreams in. "Well, I know that these things can talk to you in your dreams," she pats the pendant under her shirt. "That usually when the crystal talks to me, and how I learned to use it. If the orbs were made by the same people, then it makes sense. Have you told Gibson about the orb yet? The Curators need to know about this – it'll be the third one so far."

Lilac glares at Umeko. "I said I'd do it, but they stopped me, and you were all noooo, this is a clever trick – and I fell for it. Protecting you is hard work," the bardess counters." Turning to Anisa, Lilac's ears twitch. "Um, Gibson? Well, I told Dragonfly – is that good enough?"

"It is the one linked to Sylvania. Some sort of orb of nothingness, void," Umeko explains, "From the dream … it appears a town used to sacrifice people to it during the Necromancer Wars in order to keep their village safe by somehow removing the entire village from reality. The absurdity of that is that they were killing their people to save their people. What is the point of saving the body if you lost the soul?"

"Maybe it eats the soul, too," Lilac offers, grimly. "The Raveness seemed like she was fading away."

Anisa cocks her ears sideways. "If it's out there, you can bet the Cinders are looking for it as we speak, so it's vital that we let the Curators know where it is – has Dragonfly spoken with Gibson about it?" The doe shrugs to Umeko. "I guess some people consider that a small price to pay for security."

"And oh, I know this from Tinsnips when he induced me … Dragonfly is not a Curator; she is just a scholar. So, you will need to speak with Gibson about it, I imagine," Umeko says as she curls forward to stretch her back out a bit. "Unless you wish me to do so. I am one of the Curators too, after all."

"Maybe," Lilac offers, vaguely. "She seemed like she wasn't sure how to handle the information. I hope someone tells Gibson." The woman's tail flicks into her lap, and she begins smoothing it out nervously. "And what's more, I think I've already met the Aspect Orb of Void. I mean, doesn't my own condition and what happened to Kinny seem similar? From what I remember, the orb seems to make something from nothing. It's like it works with spaces it makes, that something rises from what it hollows out."

Lilac then blinks. "Wait, she's not a Curator? No wonder that didn't make me one – I can't remember who's who and can't keep a secret."

"I think you should tell Gibson, Lilac," Umeko comments as she stretches. The Kiriga winces for a moment and there is an uncomfortable popping sound that comes from her back. "You can't avoid him forever."

The bardess opens her mouth to protest, then just hangs her head. "No, I suppose I can't," she agrees.

Anisa winces at the pop – much more audible to her sensitive ears than to most. "You're avoiding my brother?" Her ears flop lopsided in confusion. "Whatever for?"

"You'll thank me later," Umeko offers Lilac with a pained grin. She sits back up and twists side to side. That causes a few more pops. "Parts are still … settling," she admits a bit sheepishly, "Sorry."

"Well, um … " Lilac lifts a hand and waves it vaguely. "You see, ever since what happened, you know, down there, I haven't … I haven't really spoken with him. It's hard to look him in the eyes, anymore. And what's worse, every time I think of anything romantic, anything … well, very romantic, if you understand me, I get really queasy. I just can't handle all the guilt, or the memories, and he doesn't deserve to have someone like that around him, you know? He's a really special man. I shouldn't … I shouldn't burden him." Lilac then lets out a sigh, reaching up and rubbing the bridge of her nose. "It's better this way. I'm happy enough helping Kinny, I shouldn't burden him."

"Shouldn't you allow him to decide that?" Umeko asks when she finally stops stretching.

Anisa just looks at Lilac in confusion, but doesn't seem to want to pry. "Gibson has had to put up with my crap his entire life – plus dealing with raiders, mercenaries, wizards… its hard to burden him with anything. You should talk to him."

Lilac peeks past her hand, opening an eye. "I don't know what to tell him. I know what they say about bards, but I'm not like that. I never really had any interest in romance, and then I met Gibson, and he was so wonderful. But now I'm afraid. I'm afraid to hurt him, afraid to tell him what really happened, and afraid that when I look at him all I'll see is the Temple," she admits.

"Just talk to him and find out. If you have already decided that you wish to not burden him, then how would it change things if you told him and he decided to avoid you?" Umeko points out. She looks around for a moment for something. What becomes obvious when she apparently doesn't find it. She starts combing her mane with her claws.

"I … Oh, all right, I'll talk to him," Lilac relents. She doesn't sound happy about it, but at least she agreed.

"I doubt there's much that could shock Gibson," Anisa says, "he's seen quite a bit in his life." The doe notices Kin's movement. "Missing something?"

"So … we have some things to resolve here before returning to Nagai City. I will be holding a ceremony to honor those who fell in battle. Do either of you wish to be part or say anything?" Umeko asks. To Anisa, she says, "In truth, I was looking for your comb." She grins sheepishly.

Anisa smirks, and leans over the side of the bed, pulling an oversized brush from one of her suitcases. "Here, use this one, its better. And yeah, I'd like to attend. The Dashers that got killed… I feel responsible, so I should be there for them."

"We'll see," is all Lilac says on the matter of Gibson. She looks to Umeko, now, ears perking. The change of subject seeming to relieve her somewhat, for she lowers her hand from rubbing at her face, as if she had a headache. "Well, I could play some music. I'm not really sure what to say, I, um, well I killed one of the commandos at his behest, and I rescued the rest. I think that's as close as I ever got to the military, and we settled on the battlefield. Plus, it'd be a little uncomfortable hearing how the Temple killed some of our own men, given I was kind of its … voice."

"Ah, thank you," Umeko says as she accepts the brush. With quick flicks of her wrist, the Kiriga begins brushing out her mane. She starts at the tips and works backward to untangle them. After a short bit of brushing, she asks, "And that reminds me of something … Anisa, how good are you with your bow?"

"Well, I'm usually pretty good at it," the snowy Lapine replies, "but you wouldn't know it if all you had to go on was what happened down there. Dagh, I don't know what was going on – I'll have to practice more when I get home. Oh- why do you ask?"

"I remember seeing Vandringar hanging from a rope near the end. I was going to suggest you may wish to get some broad-tipped arrows and practice cutting a rope with them from distance. It may surprise that Cervani should he try that again," Umeko offers as her lips curl back mischievously.

"Oh!" Lilac's ears shoot straight up, and she says, "That reminds me! I meant to ask, well, if you two know of someone who could teach me how to fight. You know, with fists and feet and stuff. Something that works well with what I seem to do a lot, these days. Sneaking, and the like. I really want some way to disable a person without separating them from body parts, or tasting their blood. I swear, at this rate I'm going to have an opinion on what the blood of all these races tastes like. Ew."

"Well, Master Longtooth is a remarkable teacher. But expect many bruises and a lot of pain," Umeko says as she considers the question and pauses in brushing. "There is also myself and Anisa, of course. Any of us would be capable of teaching non-lethal forms of combat."

Anisa glowers a bit. "I'd hoped to surprise Vandringar by plugging an arrow into his heart, but there's always next time I guess." She shrugs to Lilac. "I can teach you up-front combat, but not much in the way of sneaking."

"So, either of you, or Master Tooth? Wouldn't that be funny? Long Tooth teaches fighting to woman who fights with long teeth," Lilac quips, grinning a little.

"Just remember Master Long Tooth won't hold blows just because you're a woman. It would be a rough and grueling experience. Expect to bleed often from your knuckles as well," Umeko warns. "But he is an amazing warrior … if a bit odd."

"Maybe I should ask the commandos," Lilac wonders aloud, sounding nervous. "Bleeding knuckles are really unbardly."

"I should see what he could teach me some day," Anisa says, popping her knuckles. "I just learned from fighting my brothers all the time. And from bar fights."

"You've seen me fight. He could teach you similar," Umeko offers Anisa with a grin. She looks between the two women and hmms. "I would not mind having a sparring partner to practice with."

Lilac just shakes her head. "I played in bars. When fights erupted, I just, um, usually grabbed my tip and escaped," she admits. "Of course, now I know all those close calls I escaped from, and don't remember how I did it, well those weren't the wine."

Anisa nods to Kin. "Hey, I'm always up for a new challenge." She grins, "and we never did get a match back at the gym."

Umeko considers that for a moment. Now rubbing her chin, the Kiriga says, "True, we did not. And … I suppose I do owe you for the ordeal you put me through." Her eyes narrow, but there's no real malice in them. "Perhaps on the flight back we can pass the time by sparring and teaching. I am certain we could learn from each other."

"I hope you two don't pick on me, I really don't know how to fight. It's all instinct, and it's mine as much as the beast is," the bardess pleads.

The Kiriga's brow then furrows and she rolls her jaw a moment. "Ow, she mutters, then shakes her head. "You can be the uki, Lilac."

Anisa smirks at Umeko. "It'd be my pleasure – although I'm not gonna let you get too much frustration out!" She grins at Lilac. "No promises!"

"Ookie? I don't want to be ookie, I'm ookie enough as it is," says Lilac, with a sigh.

"No. The uki. The person upon which techniques are demonstrated while teaching," Umeko clarifies with a mild smile. But with a sigh, she slides off the bed and stretches, saying, "And as pleasant as this has been … I have duties to see to. Thank you, both of you, for everything. I'll leave you to your muscle flexing books."

Lilac's ears wilt. "You mean, punching bag."

Anisa ears go red once more. "Right… flexing… Well, goodnight!"