Holidays on Rephidim usually cause fluctuations in patronage for the Tavern, and Landing Day is no exception. During the holiday itself, business slows to a trickle as people eat at home or from vendors. But the day after usually sees a surge as visiting tourists eat out.

The surge this time isn't so large as to be unmanageable, but it has kept Anisa busy waiting tables in the morning and serving drinks in the afternoon. Now that evening has fallen and the dinner crowd is more or less settled in, she has a few moments to herself.

The Lapi doe wipes down a few empty tables, cleaning up since her shift is nearly up. Wiping her brow tiredly, she walks back to the bar, and places the rag into a basin. "Quinn? I'm almost finished up here."

The familiar face of Anisa's older brother pops through the service window, and makes a quick check of the remaining tables. "Okay, Anisa. Sit tight and I'll get Tyson down to relieve you in a few minutes – assuming he'll wake up!"

Anisa frowns. "He'd better wake up, or I'll be the one to wake him up myself!" The rabbit dries her paws off on a clean towel, and unties the apron from around her waist. "I have things I need to get packed."

This time it's Bessy that pokes her head out of the service window, and asks, "Packed? Where are you off to this time?"

"Olympia, with Aaron. I thought I told everyone?" The doe scratches an ear, and leans on the bar. "We're going to a family reunion of his, and I jump at any chance to go to the surface, of course."

The orange-furred doe's ears perk up at this. "Olympia! To one of those swanky beach resorts I bet. How long will you be gone?"

One of Anisa's ears wilt. "Well, not a resort exactly, no. More … rustic, actually. We'll be gone about three weeks, so I should be back a little after New Year's." The doe organizes some of the bar supplies. "Still, it should be fun. I plan to do a lot of sight seeing."

Bessy's head disappears for a moment, then comes back again. "Can we rent out your room while you're gone?" she asks. "With the extra money, maybe Quinn will take me on a vacation sometime!"

The white doe grimaces. "I don't know that I'd like that very much. I don't like the idea of some random stranger living in my room, messing with my things." She arches a brow. "Besides, Quinn should already be able to take you on vacation!"

The orange head vanishes again, and there are a few hushed words exchanged in the preparation area. Quinn reappears and frowns at Anisa, saying, "She's going to nag me for days now, you know. I should rent out your room just for that. But have it your way; we won't touch it."

Anisa smiles in mock sweetness at Quinn. "Thank you muchly, brother dear, and you're welcome, too." Swiveling an impatient ear at the stairs, the rabbit waits for Tyson to arrive. "Besides, who did you plan on lending my room out to anyway? I don't think I'd like a stranger around all the kids."

"You never know, we might get a lot of guests," Quinn says and vanishes again. Five minutes later, Tyson finally shows up to relieve Anisa. At almost the same moment, Aaron steps through the restaurant door with a bundle tucked under one arm.

"Don't keep your boyfriend waiting, Anisa," Tyson teases as he settles in behind the bar.

The Snowshoe sister tosses a towel to her brother. "Good morning, sunshine. Sleep well?" As she walks past the buck, she ruffles his ears. "Everything's wiped down and most of the customers are just camping, so you shouldn't have too much to do – and he's just my friend, twerp." She smiles as Aaron enters the room. "Hey there! Perfect timing, although I need to take a shower and pack some more." The doe sniffs her arm, wincing at the restaurant smell that emanates from it.

Coming up to the doe, Aaron smiles back. "Uh, I hope you aren't packing as much as last time," he notes. "It would be best if you could fit everything into a duffel bag, actually."

Anisa looks a little surprised at this, but doesn't protest. "You mean just pack light? Will I need anything formal?" The doe heads towards the stairs, motioning for Aaron to follow her up.

Aaron follows along, and says, "Formal? No, once we get there there'll be clothes for you. You really just need traveling clothes, and any essentials you want to bring. Something to sleep in, too."

The doe walks up the stairs and into the family hall. Walking down the corridor, she opens the door to her room and steps inside. "Clothes for me? That's weird. I hope they have stuff in my size, considering they're all probably three times as big as me." Grinning, she opens up her closet, revealing several large trunks sitting at the bottom. "Guess I won't need these. Go ahead and take a seat; I may be a few minutes." Reaching into the closet, the rabbit pulls out a clean change of clothes consisting of a black pair of trousers, blue blouse, and black vest. "I have to take a shower; this kitchen smell is gonna drive me insane."

The buck cautiously takes a seat on the corner of Anisa's bed, as if he expects it to collapse under him. He looks about the room as if he's been transported to some alien world. "I have a few things you'll need to keep with you also. And most Lapis there will be normal sized, so you don't have to worry."

"A few things? Like what?" Anisa reaches in to her collection of trunks, and pulls out a medium backpack, just big enough for a few changes of clothes and her other necessities.

Aaron unrolls his bundle on top of Anisa's bed, revealing a ceramic pendant on a leather thong, and a sheathed dagger – a big sheathed dagger. "Just a few things to keep you out of trouble," he says, and picks up the pendant.

The face of the pendant is decorated with the image of a three-headed monster, with Olympian writing inscribed on the circumference.

The doe pauses with a blink, then tosses the pack on top of her dresser. "I… see… I can guess what the dagger is for, but what's the deal with the pendant?" Pulling out a few more changes of clothes, the white Lapi idly tosses them onto her bed beside Aaron and the equipment.

"It says you're a guest of Clan Kerebos," the buck explains, glancing at the pile of clothing. "It won't be needed in Parthos, but you'll have to wear it in Dianus. Same for the dagger, so you aren't mistaken for a slave."

Anisa grimaces. "A slave? That's pretty disheartening." Taking the clothes and folding them neatly, the doe places them one by one into the pack. "They keep other Lapi as slaves?"

Aaron nods. "There really aren't any other races in Amazonia, aside from the Vykarins. It's not the sort of slavery you're familiar with from Rephidim, though."

Once filled, Anisa puts the half-full pack back onto the bed. "How so? Slavery is slavery, isn't it?"

Scratching his chin, Aaron tries to explain. "Not really. It's different when you're the same race as the slaves. They aren't really seen as property in Amazonia, and you can't buy and sell them. It's a fine line between being a slave and being a serf, since it's a feudal system anyway."

The doe scratches an ear, then shrugs. "Well, it can't be a good thing, that's for certain. Just remind me to keep them on then; I'd rather not end up as someone's wench." The Lapi smirks, and tosses her change of clothes over her shoulder. "I gotta get clean now; you can either stay here or go downstairs, your choice."

Aaron blinks, and jumps to his feet. "Uh, I think I'll wait by the fireplace. Your stuffed animals make me nervous."

Anisa blinks, then laughs. "I forgot, you don't have any sisters. Okay then, I'll be out in a little while."

The buck quickly retreats to the hallway, and retraces his way back to the main room.

Chuckling to herself, the doe steps into the hallway, and makes her way to the bathroom.

While Anisa cleans herself up, Aaron nearly dozes off in one of the chairs next to the fire, until Beatrice joins him and keeps him alert with small talk.

After a long, long while, the white doe can be heard tromping down the stairs, and comes into view brushing her still slightly damp ears, with backpack slung over one shoulder. "Sorry, I kinda lost track of time. Uh oh… you're not boring him to death, are you, Mama?" She grins.

"Of course not dear," Beatrice says, standing up and then giving Anisa a kiss on her forehead. "I think I'll go take a bath now," she says, and then turns to Aaron and notes, "Remember what we talked about, now."

"Oh, of course, ma'am!" Aaron quickly says. Behind him, Tyson snickers as he busses the last of the tables.

"That's a good boy," Beatrice says with a nod, then turns and heads for the stairs.

Anisa smiles as her mother heads up the stairs, then turns to Aaron with her brow arched, a smirk upon her face. "'Talked about', eh? What exactly was it you guys talked about?"

"Oh, you know," Aaron says, waving a hand, "motherly type stuff. How it's a shame I'm all alone here with no family, and that I need to settle down and … stuff." His ears are both lopping down along the sides of his head, so it isn't easy to really gauge his mood. "You didn't have to bring your pack with you; the ship doesn't leave for another few days. I got us a cabin on the Hecatoncheire. Nothing fancy though."

"Oh! I thought you wanted me packed tonight." Anisa tosses her bag onto the couch, and takes a seat, and rolls her eyes. "I should have figured she'd give you that spiel though – part of the reason it's best to avoid my relatives."

"But I like your parents," Aaron says. "It's not easy for a Lapi to be away from family, after all."

Anisa laughs. "True, true. It must be weird living on your own like that." She eyes Tyson. "Although sometimes I think I wouldn't mind it myself. They seem to like you, that's for sure. I just hope she didn't talk your ears off."

"Oh no, just letting me know that if I ever need anything to come to them," Aaron says, raising his ears back up a bit. "So, do you like to be on top, or on the bottom? The trip out will take almost seven days, but it's nonstop at least."

"I'll take the bottom; I don't want to risk rolling off." The doe continues to brush at her ears. "Are we that far from Olympia this time of year? I hope the ship has good food at least."

"It's mainly a cargo ship," Aaron admits, and pulls Anisa's ticket from his vest pocket, "but the food should be good. There'll probably be a few nobles and other well-to-do types aboard after all. Lots of tourism in Parthos around New Year's."

Anisa examines the ticket. "A cargo ship? I didn't even know those took passengers. How are we gonna get from Parthos to Dianus?"

"That will be a bit tricky," the buck says, tapping his fingers together. "I'll have to hire a mage to send a message, so that someone can meet us there. The only safe route to Dianus is over the lake, and there isn't exactly a regular ferry service."

"I imagine my evil twin cousin won't mind coming out to pick us up, though," Aaron says with a grin.

The doe furrows her brow. "Evil twin cousin? That doesn't sound too reassuring. He won't try to sell me or anything, will he?"

"No, I call him that because he looks just like me, only with the black and white reversed," Aaron says with a chuckle. "Roland's bigger than I am, though – probably as big as your brother Gibson."

"Really? Is he an Amazonian?" The doe places her brush in her lap. "Kind of weird that you're normal size; better than being a big lunk, though."

"Yeah, he's Amazonian, the son of my mother's younger brother," Aaron says. "I'm not sure how to describe his position in the family, without making it sound awful. He's a nice fellow, though."

Anisa cants her ears. "Position in the family? You mean he's the black sheep or something?" She grins. "Then again, if the women are in charge there, I can understand. Maybe Tyson should come along with us." She smirks at her brother across the room.

Aaron blinks at the thought of Tyson in Dianus. "Uh, I don't think Tyson would like it much. And Roland actually has a pretty important place," the buck says. "He's the Clan Priapus. It's… well, it's a rather unusual role, really." Aaron seems a bit uncomfortable now, and regrets bringing up the topic.

"Priapus?" The doe arches a brow. "Is that like a Technopriest?"

"No, I wouldn't say that," Aaron says, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh, good breeding is really important in Amazonia, you see, especially for warriors. So the male with the best features is sort of hired out… "

"Oh. Oh… " Anisa's ears blush as she stifles a giggle. "I, uh, see. Amazonia sounds like it might as well be another planet!"

Aaron nods. "That's a good way to think of it. Don't take anything for granted. And whatever you do, don't drink any milk."

The doe looks strangely at the buck. "Uhm … should I even ask?" Getting up from the couch, the white rabbit walks to the bar, and brings back a couple of cookies, munching on one and handing the other to Aaron.

The apothecary's demeanor brightens under the effect of the cookie. "Thanks! Oh, it's just a precaution. There's a potion called the Milk of Ashtoreth that warriors like to drink, and it really isn't something you'd like."

"What does it do, turn you into a beef lump or something?" Anisa munches on her cookie, wiping the crumbs from her face. "The way you make it out, I shouldn't touch anything or anybody!"

"Well, just be careful," Aaron says, wiping some crumbs from his chin. "The Milk has different effects. Sometimes they take it before going into battle, and sometimes as a fertility drug."

The doe shakes her head. "They have a thing for fertility, don't they? Makes me glad I was born in Rephidim for a change." Finishing off her cookie, the Lapi readjusts her seat. "But it sound interesting, that's for sure! They'll probably think me some kind of runt."

"Oh, no… but they'll probably think you've had children already," Aaron says, nonchalantly. "And they'll pronounce your name funny."

Anisa blinks. "Think I had children already? Do they shrink after they have kids or something?" The doe scratches her ears. "You're making my head hurt."

Aaron blinks back. "Oh no, it's just that does there don't really … develop fully until their first pregnancy. You eat a lot better up here on Rephidim after all."

The doe just stares at Aaron, then shakes her head. "Okay, that's enough of a society lesson for one day I think. I already have culture shock, and I haven't even left yet!" The doe shakes her head with a grin. "So we leave in eight days?"

"Three days," Aaron says, and blushes slightly. "Sorry to overwhelm you; just thought I should get the weird stuff out of the way before you actually got onto the airship."

Anisa laughs. "I'm sure I'll encounter more, that's for certain. At least I have a little inkling of what to expect."

Aaron stands up and stretches. "Well, I'm ready to head home. Try the dagger on too, in case we need to get the straps adjusted. You can wear it on your upper arm or on your calf if you want."

The doe opens her pack, and reaches inside, pulling out the dagger. Standing, she wraps it around her upper leg. "Like this, or do they usually wear it on the arm?"

"Wherever it's comfortable, so long as it's visible," Aaron says, after tearing his eyes away from Anisa's leg. "Oh, and they'll probably call you 'Anysia,' which is a proper Olympian name."

Anisa places the dagger back onto the couch. "'Anysia?'" She smiles. "That's pretty. What does it mean?"

"'Complete,'" Aaron says. "Sort of an odd name really, if you think about it," he notes, rubbing his chin. "Then again, they'll be calling me 'Xavier,'" the buck adds, twisting his mouth in distaste.

The doe smirks. "Yeah, that is kind of weird. Maybe it's like 'self-confident' or something." She grins.

Aaron looks around, then whispers, "Just don't let your brothers know about my other name, okay?"

"'Xavier?' That's a pretty name, too." Anisa looks bemused. "Why don't you want them to know that?"

"Because it's a pretty name," Aaron grumbles.

Anisa laughs, and replaces the dagger into her pack. "Well, then I'll keep it secret, but don't get mad if I call you that sometimes." The doe grins, and slings the pack over her shoulder. "I'd probably better get to bed in a bit; have to get up early."

Aaron smiles and says, "Goodnight then; see you in a few days!"