Pearl
This week had been an odd one. He'd made a friend, and potentially lost the same one. Had discovered he was not the only oddity lurking around Salvainia. He sat down, having found himself not far from Gerong despite the events there, outside of a small shop where he had refilled his meager food supplies with his waterskin in his hands. The Not-Oni carefully uncorks it to take a drink, wishing he honestly had something stronger on hand. 

Putting the lid back on it, he sighs. He should find some work that doesn't involve beating the ever living hell out of himself. He should also, probably, find a way to just feel safer in general. Both of those feel like a fool's errand however so instead he finds himself people watching, leaning on one hand and getting his book from his bag to flip through. Anything really but accepting things ought to change.
Karen
The Macen would be on a walk with a soft hum. He stretched a little as he walked. He's had a rather average week overall, since he joined New Sunlight, and had been doing odd-jobs as he traveled Salvainia. It's been a dull week, though he's been thinking of his original dream again.

Forming a Mercenary group for the second time, was of course an idea. He sighed a little, as he walked, thinking of his two friends. One he hadn't seen in ages, and the other he just hadn't spoke too in awhile. He missed both, but he cleared his thoughts to focus on his walk.

He looked about for anyone also present, stretching his arms. He noted the possible Oni, and deciding he should meet more people, approached. "Hello." He said, cheerfully.
Pearl
The 'Oni' looked up, and was honestly rather pleased to find that it was *Not* Some masked individual standing there. Those had been appearing to him in spades lately and he was beginning to suspect some odd, cosmic joke was being played on him. "Well, hello," He said, dog earring the page and closing his book to focus on the Macen.

Amos looked an odd Oni, but well, horns would probably mean Oni, right? He glanced about briefly, seeing that the Macen was alone, then refocused on Alde with a slight smirk. "Just out and about on your own, sir?" Falling back into old habits, though he was currently resisting his usual sass. "Or protecting the streets?" After glancing towards his back and seeing the halberd there.

Now he knew he was restless. He just wanted to cause trouble.
Karen
The Macen smiled when the 'Oni' greeted him in return. He would stretch a little more, massaging his shoulder a little. While Alde knew not every horned individual was actually an Oni, he wondered if that was the case with this stranger or not. Though he didn't know how to word it to ask, as it seemed rude when he pictured it in his head. ``Are you an Oni? Cool!`` He shook his head a little to focus himself back on the man. "Hm? Oh, uh... A bit of both, I suppose."

He said, and smiled a little, with a small laugh. "I'm Aldeberto Gyldenstierne-Seidel, though most people just call me Alde." He said, offering his and for a handshake. "And you are?" He asked, tilting his head a little.
Pearl
"A bit of both, you suppose?" He repeats with a smirk, head tilted. He was definitely in the sort of mindset to mess with someone now, he just had to decide how. "Well, I suppose that thing on your back will help with that. Haven't seem many folks just traveling with one, but I suppose I haven't met many folks as of late that haven't been oddities either way."

He reached out to shake the Macen's hand and raised his brows at the name. "That's a mouthful, I can see why they call you Alde." He said, understatement of the year, but he then said, "Just Amos for myself." His handshake was firm, but not crushing, and he let go. 

"Is it such a slow day that you have time to stop and talk to any stranger on the street?" He asked, looking amused. "If you have that much time, you may as well sit down and join me for a moment. I don't think anything else is going to happen today around here really."
Karen
The Macen laughed a little, and nodded. "My Hellebarde does indeed help in keeping the peace." He said, nodding again. He was glad to meet someone new as it was. "Everyone is strange in their own little way, I suppose." Alde said, with a faint shrug. "Well, its a pleasure to meet you, Amos." He thought over the other's offer to sit and chat.

"That does sound quite nice." He answered. "I suppose you are right. I haven't seen any real trouble at all even." He said, going to sit down near the 'Oni'. "What do you do for a living?" Alde asked, curious to learn more about his new acquaintance.
Pearl
"Well, I suppose I'll see how strange you are then. So far you don't have on a pig mask though so it's going well," He says, chuckling with amusement. "Though they were not *Bad*, they could play along at least instead. Now I just wonder how you'll fare." 

Moving to make some room he turns slightly to look at Alde easier, brows raised. "That's lucky of you. I can't claim to be able to avoid trouble quite so often." He paused at the question, chuckling, "I tend to do some fighting for money. Nothing especially complicated, but it's easy money and I heal fairly quickly, so I don't need as long a break as others do." He said, thinking a long moment. 

"What do you do, Alde? Just keep the peace or something more complicated than that?" He raised his brows, smirking, "You look plenty strong. I'll *Assume* That's not just for looks, though those are not bad either."
Karen
The Macen laughed a little at the mention of a pig mask, and his eyebrows raised a little. He tilted his head. "A pig mask, huh? I suppose that is a little more strange." He said, listening. He nodded, and scratched his chin a little as he heard the 'Oni' was a bit of a Brawler. "Huh, well that does indeed sound like it is a rather easy source of money, and not complicated at all for the most part. Just win, the brawl." He nodded. "Oh, what I do? I'm an adventurer by trade. I travel, and I do mercenary work for the most part. So... In a way, we're not so different career wise, you know?"

He relaxed into the spot, and his cheeks flushed a little from the praise. "U-uh... Th-thanks." He said, embarrassed. Sadly for the would-be Mercenary, he still wasn't used to praise. The only praise he was really used to, was from his parents who he hadn't seen in a few years now. He shifted a little, to get his thoughts off of his family, lest he feel homesick.
Pearl
"A pig mask. Pink haired so perhaps he simply felt it was a theme he could go with that would work?" He shrugs and chuckles, leaning his head back. "And it is easy. You go in, you either beat someone or you're beaten, and you get paid. Winning of course *Helps* With that, but sometimes... Well, sometimes losing can also be gainful," He says, shrugging. "Though I do see plenty on the path of mercenary work as well. I suppose it offers some appeal; being able to travel and work."

He didn't think much of the teasing, but he *Did* See Alde flush. Oh now he'd found something to amuse himself with. Smirking he picks up the waterskin to take a drink. "Don't look so shy about receiving a compliment, Alde. You look strong, and I'm sure plenty of women find that appealing, don't they?" He asked, prodding and teasing a bit. "Last I knew, most women liked fair haired and strong men."
Karen
He listened a little, nodding. He found it interesting someone wold use a pig mask, and was pink haired. He raised an eyebrow a little at the mental image. "Yeah, winning, losing, sometimes its a part of life." He said, nodding. "The odd mercenary work is certainly helpful with traveling." His flush grew as he listened to Amos more. He tokk in a breath, stammering a little. "W-well, uh... I am fairly strong yeah. I-I'm just uh... Not used to being praised by others." He said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Its a little... Uh, new to me, from non-family." He said, and his confidence grew a little, at the prodding. "Well, yeah, I suppose plenty of women do find it appealing. I guess I uh... Never stopped to notice." He admitted, his cheeks reddening more.
Pearl
"Might be something I should look into really. I've been moving around far too much to keep a steady job outside of odd fights here and there," He mused, as really, finding jobs to just get beaten up were... Well, difficult. Freedom had its limitations he supposed. 

He could see the Macen growing redder and redder, and held back a chuckle. This was fun. The Macen was easily flustered by praise and he wondered just about how far he could take his teasing. Well, one way to find out. "Well, if you don't want to be praised, let me know. I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable, but it is the truth."

He offered the Macen the water skin, then paused. Wait a minute- "Are you *Only* Used to your family praising you? Your mother I would imagine mostly." Or that seemed to be how it was in most families. "And honestly, don't women make it apparent you're attractive? I can't be the only one that's said it to you."
Karen
He nodded, agreeing with what he said. He knew having a steady job was nice, as it is. He blushed more when Amos continued to tease him. He coughed awkwardly. "Uh... N-no, the praise is nice, of course. I just... Yeah. I'm not really used to it." He blushed more when Amos went to offer the water skin, and paused to tease him more. "Uh... I-I guess I've not paid much attention to others. I've been pretty focused on a little dream of mine, to uh... Well.."

He took in a breath. "You might think this is a bit silly, or something but, I've been pretty focused making a name for myself, to one day, well... I hope to become a noble one day, before I get old, and weak. Mostly, I hope to ecome a noble, so I could, restore my family's former noble status." He said. "And uh, thanks." He said, going to take a drink from the waterskin.
Pearl
He almost felt bad about how easily the Macen was coming apart, but when Alde confirmed he didn't *Mind* The praise then Amos relaxed a bit. No point in being a complete asshole about it after all. He let Alde take his drink, commenting with a smirk, "Though if my telling you you're handsome does both you, let me know. I don't think you could turn much redder than you are." Okay maybe he was a bit of an asshole. 

"Really though... You don't seem as though you've much of any experience having anyone show interest in you, or maybe flirt with you either." It was a statement rather than a question as Amos examines the man, head tilted. "I don't suppose you have much confidence in yourself, do you? For example, you're not sitting here deciding that having a stranger flirt with you is out of the question for some odd reason is stupid, or you're not putting yourself down to avoid the idea, correct?"

"Looking to restore the family? I suppose that could explain the name." Gods knew Nobles could be odd about names. "Nothing wrong with wanting to help your family so long as they help you, though I can't comment on wanting nobility. It's not something that appeals much to me anymore. How did your family lose their status?"
Karen
He bit his lip gently. He blushed more, as he heard Amos speaking about how red he was getting. He shook his head, trying to calm himself before he spoke again. He didn't trust his stuttering as it was, and listened a little. "W-well... Uh, I guess I don't think I can get much redder..." He said, feeling his blushing cheeks as they slowly began to calm down overall. He chuckled a little. "I guess I'm not used to thinking about love, and all that." He admitted. "I mean, this conversation's been pretty interesting, as any one conversation can get."

"It's certainly different, least... Well, I can't say I have much confidence in myself, I worry about a lot in the end, but I always put my worries aside when I fight, maybe I... Should learn to put them aside more often, and see how many flirts i've not noticed." He said, with a faint laugh.

"Well, yeah. I suppose there is nothing wrong with wanting to help my family. Some people tihnk its silly, or laughable though. Not much anymore? So you were a noble once?" He asked, before taking in a deep breath. "Well... My grandfather was... You could say, he uh, *Got around*, and he shamed the family at one point with some affair. I've heard it was with an Okamimi, but I don't know the full details. He later went into debt over quietening the rumors and such, and sold off his land when my dad was just a kid. And well, no one really wanted te Gyldenstierne-Seidel line around anymore." He said, with a shru. "So, my father ended up a farmer, and well, here I am."
Pearl
Deciding to take a small risk, he reached over to lightly turn Alde's face to a better look though he didn't let his fingers linger long in case the touch was unwanted. "Oh, probably not. I don't think your heart could get that much blood to your face," He said with a smirk before he laughed quietly. "But at least the conversation is *Interesting*, rather than a boring one. I'll admit, I never much learned about love until I was older. Before then it was mostly studies, due diligence, and doing what was right for your family. All incredibly dull topics." Of that much he was completely certain. "Ah, and not making mistakes I couldn't handle later."

He listened to Alde's words, and his laugh, before smirking, "Well, you don't seem the sort to have much confidence. Fighting however is a good way to build that. You can't really hesitate or think over what you're doing in a fight; Most people won't let you." He said before he leaned back slightly. "So you really haven't noticed you've been flirted with this entire time? That's a shame. I'll need to try a bit more then."

Pausing to think as he listened to the story of what happened with his grandfather, he nodded. "An affair will do that, though given how many feel about beastkin and Okamimi, I can't say it's surprising things went as badly as they did." He tilted his head. "Not an especially powerful man, was he then? If selling a bit of land to quiet rumors was his method of choice. Seems to me if he just let them ride, he wouldn't have put your family in that situation, though... He probably felt it of utmost importance then."

Then he got to the questions, nodding, "I was at one point, but my family was, or is, highly competitive. I suppose I managed to piss off my siblings one too many times, but I'm happier now than I was then so.. I suppose I can't complain too much."
Karen
Alde gulped a little as Amos turned his head towards him, and he looked around a little, before he let his eyes settle onto Amos. He was still embarrassed overall, and his reddening cheeks began to flare up once more. He bit his lip a little, as he embarrassed chuckled at the comment about getting the blood to his face. He listened intently to Amos' life as a noble. "Certainly dull, but... I can't imagine it wasn't really all bad?" He asked, curiously overall. He was eager to learn more of nobility in the end, though it made him wonder overall, more about Amos. He didn't know Oni had nobles, and he made a mental note to ask about it later.

"I like to believe in myself during combat, even if I am worried, of course. I believe in a way its normal to worry in the fields of battle. But, yeah, I've never noticed it I guess." He chuckled embarrassed. "Th-though uh... I do think I notice it here." He'd add, scratching the back of his neck, embarrassed more.

"Well, yeah, my grandfather wasn't very powerful, he was a Baron I believe it was. My father didn't talk much about it, for good reason I guess. I guess my grandfather didn't want to be shamed with the whole scandal, and decided wasting away his coin and status in silencing them, was better than living with the scandal as a still noble house." He said, shrugging.

"Though, now I must admit hearing of your family, I uh... Didn't expect Oni to have nobles, and such. Its interesting to learn though." He said, deciding to just go with his assumption that Amos was an Oni of sorts, instead of just a non-Oni, that had horns. He's heard of strange mutations like that, after all. Though, he decided to add to it, just in case it was such. "Er... Assuming you *Are* An Oni at least..." He said, with a nervous, questioning chuckle.
Pearl
"Well that's a cute look." So long as the Macen was aware he was being flirted with, and didn't seem to hate it, Amos didn't mind doing it. After all, it made the whole day quite a bit less dull when you could fluster up an apparent warrior/mercenary so easily. He bit back what he felt might be too much for the moment however, and focused on the question. "It may not have been too terrible from the outside no. My siblings and I certainly thrived in our own ways. But it wasn't what I wanted either." He shrugged, as that was the vague truth of the matter as it were.

"Well, as for wasting his coin on silence, I suppose to him that's what mattered. It was a bit of self preservation, for all it was worth. For some Nobility, image is everything because to many Nobles your money is just there to make you look successful. Your home can be in ruins, and your family miserable, but so long as everything looks fine on the outside.. Well, the rest can rot." He was quite aware of that fact, and how that worked. After all, he and his siblings fought and squabbled for nothing and he supposed, they still were. As Alde made his assumption, then immediately backpedaled on it, he laughed. The sound was good natured, and good humored. "I don't know if they do or not, to be honest. I just know of my family." Not confirming, nor denying anything.

"As for believing in yourself in combat, well, if you don't the stakes are much higher than when dealing with others. But I suppose if you die in combat, you also don't have to worry about the consequences of mucking something up with someone, do you?" He asked, chuckling before looking at him, then nodding. "But to be honest, you don't seem to *Hate* This either. I don't think I would mind kissing someone like you. What do you say?"
Karen
He stuttered, and blushed when he was called cute. "I-I..." He gulped a little, as he focused on calming himself. He listened to him speak of his family, and nodded. He understood in a way. "That... Sounds familiar to me, I didn't find farming very interesting and it was quite dull to me." He said, nodding. "I understand wanting something else, for sure. I wouldn't be here if I enjoyed farming afterall. I can't imagine what you probably went through though. I imagin it was a lot, least." He said, with a small shrug.

"I think, yeah he cared about his image. I don't know though, I never met him. I can only speculate why he did it in the end. But what I do know is he cared for his family, and supposedly the Okamimi. Whether he loved them or not, I don't know. All I do know, is the man lost everything in the end. And my grandmother was apparently not very impressed with him on sacrificing everything his family had owned, created, and lived for." He said, shrugging a little. "Perhaps in the end he was a bit crazy..."

He paused to think over what Amos said about Nobles and hiding their home problems. He thought it over with a small shrug. "Well, that could be why he did it then. Prhaps it was to hope and keep his status in a strange way." He was confused by the way Amos didn't quite answer the question though. "I... See I think?" He said, with a small shrug.

He nodded in agreement over what Amos had to say about combat. It was true, and he tensed a little, as he was asked about the kiss. He blushed profusely, and stuttered. "U-uh... W-well, um... I..." He took in a deep breath, as his cheeks stung with embarrassment. "I... Guess not?" He said, tilting his head. "I've uh... Never, kissed someone i-in this manner."