James
"Hmm... I have quite a bit of story to tell. But I don't think my homeland's cooking will intrigue you. You seems to be proficient in it, after all." 

*Sirdan tried to think up of a good story to tell, and thought of the rather traumatic story of the temple. That would be too much - and what he did is too much to confess. How about an old story?*

*Sirdan wrapped his own arm around hers, tugging her in closer.*

"If you're grateful, repay me by making me... Very happy." *He cleared his throat,*"Anyway. This was from before I entered the guild of New Sunlight. Before that, I used to be associated with a guild of monster hunters. We had to deal with a very large beast - one that resembled a much less tough hydra. I think it was a strange mutation - but the pay was good."

"Back then, I had a few friends in the guild. One of them was a mutant of some sort - He called himself a Lycan... Crab? Massive pincer on one of his hand. Another was an Ardent - with wings, but he cannot fly. He was great at falling from great height though. We formed a team because they were paying almost three thousand silver a pop - and there was three other person I remembered.." 

"...Think one was another Ardent - quite pretty lass, big black wings and all. And then other two... Honestly I forgot. Probably because they were useless or didn't uh, have something happen to them."

"And me, in my characteristic fashion, ponied up three hundred silver to buy a draft horse, and then an entire cart while at it, and then I tugged my cart horse with my war horse. And I bought multiple lances, pots of quick lime, slings, rope, ammunition, tar and pitch, everything I could get my hand on - I brought to fight the demi-hydra. It was a dangerous opponent after all." 

"The fight began after we baited it to a nearby cliff with animals, and I surrounded it on my horse, shooting it with my bow. The bow barely did a number on its flesh, and didn't seem to do much. And then with the useless... Fodders in the team, I attempted to lance it, and wounded it slightly. But even the longest, strongest couched lance I had could not bring it down." *He paused, recalling the terror of charging a demi hydra on horse and lancing it.*

"Then, I saw Mr.Crab in front of the hydra. And then he said,'I'm going for its uvula'. And thus he jumped up with a sword and leaped into the beast's mouth, and attempted to grab onto something - it was dark, but I could see him try to grab at the roof of its mouth. He missed." 

"Our entire party was in horror when he got swallowed up. And I lanced the thing again, slinging quicklime pot and fire blasts at it from horse. My friend finished him - when he walked up one of the nearby cliff, and did a leap of faith with a lance. He somehow survived the fall, and the lance went straight into its brain, killing the beast." 

"I butchered the thing, claimed my bounty and buried what's left of Mister Crab. It was quite sad... But I barely knew him. It took only weeks before the sushi joke started propping up in the guild, though." 

*Sirdan grabbed Hu Lang's hands, putting them together, rubbing the top,*"You have such soft and delicate hands, Hu Lang. Now that I think of it, it would be nice to travel around in a wagon, experiencing the world, would it not?"
John
"A Demi-hydra? So brave and strong."

*Hu Lang leaned back, rubbing her head against Sirdan's chest. Her face goes from interest to intrigue, then to horror and shock as Sirdan describes the man jumping into the beast's throat.*

"That was... Stupid. Taking down such a thing can't be easy, even with that much firepower."

*Tian's ears perk up, then flatten.*

"I would love to... But I don't know if I can leave this place. When I first bought this place, it was small. Through my work I developed it, grew it to the amazing restaurant it is now. I don't think I can trust others to take care of it while I'm gone. Maybe one day, if the Oni you talked about is talented, one day I can make her the my apprentice. Have her be able to run this place on her own."
James
*"So brave and strong"* 

"You are flattering me, my dear." *He reached for Hu Lang's head, lifting it up so he could stare into her eyes. It was striking, and he felt his heart warm up from her words. He placed his hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat raise.* 

"Can you... Praise me more?" *He confessed, listening to what she had to say next, while idly stroking her ears.* 

"It is a shame. I am sure you and I would have a lot of fun travelling together. A nomadic life for a few months, perhaps going around solving local's problems. It is like some of those legendary knight's quests from tale." *Sirdan said, throwing his head back and closing his eyes, remembering the tale of questing knight. It was classical - a knight who go around journeying until he win the lady's hand.* 

"Perhaps your apprentice - or summon could take care of it one day. I should introduce her to you." *He squeezed Hu Lang's stomach gently, wondering if there's room for a cook in a knight's questing party,*"But instead of going on a quest - how about we head over to the commercial district and go to a massage club there? I'd invite you to the spring in Prasia, but it is a bit far away, and I am sure that'll worry you a lot."