Meeting Back

At the temple, Karma and Vajor were sweaty and exhausted from their spar together. Vajor wipes the sweat from his brow while Karma sat against a pillar trying to relax and catch their breath.

VAJOR:

"not bad. Remember ta keep her guard up though. If I 'ad been yer enemy I'd 'ave done more than jus' knock ya on yer ass. I wasn' expectin' ya to come at me wit' tha' kick. Yer fuckin' fast."

KARMA:(breathless)

"yeah, well... You try running for your life... dodging traps and crap.... If there's one thing I'm most proud of... It's my speed."

VAJOR:

"I can see why. Ya got sum fancy footwork fer sure."

Vajor offers Karma a waterskin.

VAJOR:

"'ere."

Karma takes the waterskin and drinks it then sighs in relief.

KARMA:

"Haa~h! That hit the spot."

VAJOR:

"Wonder where dove an' Aktlass went. I'd say we could meet up wit' 'em, but I 'ave no idea where at'd be."

KARMA:

"Well, if nothing else, I'd say the garden or aquarium. She and Lendral really hyped them up after all. (mutters) Though I hope it's the garden."

VAJOR:

"Don' like tha' water much?"

KARMA:(scoff)

"Not really."

VAJOR:

"If ya don' wanna talk about it we can always go check tha gardens. Even if they aren't there, we may find somethin' pretty ta look at, at least. Better than starin' at a bunch o' sweaty men."

KARMA:(laughs)

"you make it sound like none of us has done that at least once in our lives."

VAJOR:(snicker)

"I spent a few decades wit' a bunch o' dwarves. I'm used ta sweaty men, don' mean I enjoy it. There are better thin's ta stare at, trust me."

KARMA:

"Like~ Sarale?"

VAJOR:(chuckle*winks at Karma*)

"Exactly."

Sarale squeaks upon hearing Vajor and Karma's conversation as they walk into the training grounds. She turns on her heels and tries to retreat, her face red with embarrassment. Tunda steps in front of Sarale and makes her turn back around.

TUNDA:

"I thought you said you wanted to stick with Karma?"

Sarale covers her face in embarrassment.

SARALE:

"You're here. Aktlass is here. Vajor's here. I'm not needed."

KARMA:(sarcastic)

"Awe, What? Who's gonna make us follow the nonexistent rules of the party?"

Aktlass looks at Karma unimpressed and Tunda tilts his head confused by Karma's remark.

SARALE:

"I have no doubt Aktlass can keep you from doing something reckless."

VAJOR:

"You'll miss us, dove, an' you know it."

KARMA:

"Correction. You'll miss her."

VAJOR:

"Aye, I will, but you will too."

KARMA:

"Well, of course I will."

Sarale tries to slip past Tunda.

SARALE:

"I'm gonna hide now."

Tunda grabs Sarale's wrist.

TUNDA:

"Oh no, you don't. You wanted to be here so~ badly."

SARALE:

"I wasn't expecting to walk into That Conversation."

TUNDA:

"Really? As long as you've been with Karma, you weren't expecting that?"

SARALE:

"To be fair, there's never been a reason for that."

TUNDA:

"To be fair, Karma never has a reason for that."

KARMA:

"Hey!"

TUNDA:

"You don't."

SARALE:(huffs*to Karma*)

"Honestly, I'm just surprised it took you so long to pounce Aktlass."

Tunda stiffens and glares at Sarale in surprise while Vajor bursts into a fit of laughter. Aktlass doesn't react and looks at Karma who looks at Sarale for a moment, their tail sways curiously.

KARMA:

"oh. Well, that's 'cuz I've been getting good sleep since he joined us, so I didn't feel any issue with my restlessness."

AKTLASS:(sigh)

"That's because I have to put you in a burrito wrap to hold you still."

SARALE:(snarks)

"Aww Karma needs to be swaddled, like a baby."

Sarale tries to pull out of Tunda's grip and her tone changes.

SARALE:(*to Tunda*)

"Will you please let me go?"

Tunda lets go of Sarale's wrist and holds his hands to his chest, feeling her annoyance with him.

TUNDA:

"My bad."

SARALE:(huffs)

"No problem, I just… have a personal space problem."

One of the paladin's in the training grounds, who had stopped to watch the exchange, approaches the party.

PALADIN:

"I'll say. You nearly broke Felnor's arm when he grabbed you like that. You must really like these people."

SARALE:

"was anyone asking you?"

PALADIN:(Shrugs & grins)

"no but I'm nosy, you know that."

Tunda looks at the Paladin with a knowing look.

SARALE:(eyeroll)

"shouldn't you be training? Or do you always insist on neglect your responsibilities to interject yourself into others conversations, Jakob?"

JAKOB:

"only when I know it'll annoy you, pearl."

SARALE:

"Don't, call me that."

Sarale's annoyance is palpable as she crosses her arms. Jakob glances at Tunda and his brows furrow.

JAKOB:(curious)

"Do I know you? You look familiar."

TUNDA:(shrugs)

"meh. probably seen me around. I donno."

JAKOB:

"No, I'm sure I've seen you around here. Are you thinking of joining the temple?"

Tunda scoffs and quickly covers his mouth with a deep breath before answering him.

TUNDA:

"nah. I'm just here on business with one of yours. I'm only here cuz I know these peeps well."

JAKOB:(shrugs)

"No matter. Pearl, you-"

"JAKOB! BACK TO WORK!"

The sound of a booming voice can be heard from across the room as one of the higher ranking Paladin's barks at him making him jump.

JAKOB:

"YES MA'AM!"

Jakob scampers off to do as he was told. Sarale sighs and pats Tunda's arm.

SARALE:

"Ignore him. He's a troll. Let's go. The verdict for Lendral's sentence should be in, then we can leave."

Vajor's tail swishes.

VAJOR:

"leaving already?"

Karma stands and rushes to Aktlass' side and gives him a hug. Tunda sees them and steps near them as if waiting for one himself. Karma gives Tunda a hug then goes back to Aktlass to take his hand.

TUNDA:

"I'll be wandering 'round for a while and meet y'all up later.

A bottle o' bit can do a trick on every witch you cross."

Tunda leaves as he hums to himself. Sarale quirks a brow as she watches Tunda leave.

SARALE:

"Yes, we're leaving after. We don't need to be here when Patrice gets back."

Sarale turns to walk to Elyria's office still visibly annoyed. Vajor's ears tilt back and he jogs to catch up.

VAJOR:

"I.. I'm sorry if I upset ya dove."

SARALE:(*side glances at Vajor*)

"why would you think I'm upset with you?"

Vajor tilts his head in confusion.

SARALE:(sighs)

"Vajor, I'm not sure I could ever really be upset with you."

Vajor's ears perk up.

VAJOR:(Smiles)

"Is it 'cuz ya like me?"

SARALE:(blush)

"Maybe."

Vajor's grin turns goofy and Sarale shakes her head and chuckles.

SARALE:

"You're too cute for words sometimes."

Karma and Aktlass follow after Sarale and Vajor.

AKTLASS:

"So you admit that you want him as a mate?"

SARALE:(blush & Panic)

"I-I… Why? Why are you guys so mean to me?"

Vajor starts to giggle while Karma simply smiles at Aktlass for his sudden interjection. Sarale stops in front of the office and takes a calming breath. She glances back at her friends.

SARALE:(sigh)

"No matter what happens, just know I'm proud of all of you."

VAJOR:(*ear twitch*)

"why are ya actin' as if yer tha one bein' sentenced?"

SARALE:(guilty smile)

"...Because I am."