Fandom RWBY Saga: Menagerie [Arc 2 IC]

Culpeo Albain
"Understood." Culpeo said to Blake unsure whether or not she had even heard him before she hung up, stowing his scroll away he wasn't surprised that his companions were asking when help was coming. "Airship is on the way, back to business." A touch of irritation leaked into his clipped tone at the questioning on top of his own frustration at his dead arm.

Seeing the last sawtooth vanish beneath the sea he drew one of his daggers with his good hand and looked around suspiciously with his ears swivelling around searching for possible threats. "Somehow I doubt that's the end of it." Hearing the sound of something splashing in the water he turned and saw the first of the tentacles rising up above them. "Really not our biggest problem right now!" He snapped as Bruno tried to police their language. As the beast jostled their craft Culpeo hung on as best he could while still holding his weapon and firing lightning bursts at the tentacle that threatened to crush them. "Dammit." He snarled as most of the shots went astray without him being able to steady himself.

Rescue Rangers!With there series of concussive blasts and slashes headed toward the lumbering tentacle any normal limb would be evaporated. However, the giant kraken limb was only burned by the concussive blasts and as the blades connected they only seemed to sink deep in the thick skin. Deep as it was it was nowhere deep to injure the creature as it's trunk like limb lowered towards the raft. Luckily for the passengers a moment before the raft was about to be crushed a wave produced by the other limbs pushed it out of the collapsing tentacle.

The raft scraped against the falling tentacle, anyone with a weapon buried in the beast may be pulled off. The water rippled and pushed the raft around as the tentacles curled around towards the shadow of the raft that blocked the blue surface of the water above. Etching closer to the raft the tentacles were primed to crush it to bits along with the passengers.

However at the moment that seemed most dire there was hope as a large fireball roared through the sky and smashed against the coiling tentacles. The water shook with the roar of the creature in the depths below. To the North a boat ( Chak ) arrived on the scene where a series of White fang members ( Brinni LoneSniper87 )began to barrage the Kraken with a series of massive attacks. Screaming in anguish the tentacles began to slither back into the ocean.

Onyx Belladonna

Onyx watched the beast get ready to crush them all, only for an explosive round to slam home into it, the tentacle recoiling back from the force of the attack. She turned to see the airship with a familiar symbol of the new White Fang. "Woo!" She cheered, raising her arms as the barrage continued, sending the beast back into the depths.

She turned to look at her mother, who stood in the bay door, their eyes meeting for a second. The dropship slowly descended and made it to where the others could jump on. Onyx jumped on first, being pulled up by her mother and sling past so the others could be jump on. "Thank you..." She said to her mother quietly, taking a seat.

"Everyone! Climb on before they return!" Blake shouted, motioning them all aboard.

Tsana Luna KhanAs Tsana concentrated on remaining afloat and in the dingy raft, she could hear the distant sounds of a boat sailing towards them, and an airship flying above. In all the chaos, Tsana only focused on one thing, the flag of the White Fang. Even now, every time she saw the new logo, her heart cringed at what her mother's legacy had become, the legacy she had been given that started with Ghira Belladonna. A flawed, misrepresented, broken, and sad organization. It was broken, just liker her mother. Snapping out of her thinking, Tsana slashed at a tentacle, gouging a deep wound into the Grimm's body. The tentacle reeled back, soon following the rest of the Grimm back under. Hearing the airship fly down, Tsana watched as Onyx boarded through the open bay doors.

She stared at Blake Belladonna as if she were the villain, as if she was the root cause for everything. She pushed those thoughts away. They would never be good for her, thinking of an ally as the enemy. Pulling herself up into the airship, Tsana sent a passing glance to the Belladonna matriarch, before going to sit into an empty seat, making sure it was distanced from everyone. It was a weird feeling, knowing you'd be going home, but not having anyone to welcome you. Leaning back and closing her eyes, Tsana passed into a blissful, dreamless sleep, something that has eluded her ever since the fall of Beacon.

Culpeo Albain
Seeing that the massive tentacle was unaffected and the beast was preparing to drag them down Culpeo crouched down and placed his good hand on the floor of the raft, channelling his semblance through the vessel it shuddered and flickered on the spot but failed to move. Come on! Five people isn't that much more than two! Pouring out his aura he kept trying feeling his levels drop precipitously, seeing that his efforts were fruitless he was reaching out to grab Tsana and at least move the two of them out of the way when the massive blast struck the kraken.

Sighing with relief Culpeo watched as the grimm retreated then looked to the airship and seized up for a moment when he saw Blake standing in the doorway then hauled himself on board. "Thank you." He said shortly as he passed he without making eye contact. Pausing to watch that everyone else was aboard his gaze followed Tsana as she went to an isolated seat then fell asleep, feeling a surge of protectiveness he shuffled awkwardly in place with indecision for a moment then went over and sat down next to her.

Croc and Bruno
Bruno and Croc held on as the raft was pushed just out of the way of tentacles that failed to deflect with their shots. But without a moment of rest the raft was set to get crushed once more. "Bruno if we die, I like to say your my best friend," Croc said sincerely.

"Croc your my best friend too," Bruno said tearing up a little. Luckily for the pair when things seemed dire a fireball smashed into the tentacles and send them back into the water. "We are saved!" Bruno cheered as he and Croc began cheering more before they rushed onboard the airship the white fang lowered to the side of the raft.

"We are alive! Ya! I can't thank you enough for the save." Croc said to Blake grateful for just being alive.

Story Teller With all in board, the ship took off. The ship sailed across the sparkling blue water. A fang member approached Culpeo, nodding towards the arm the young man obviously favored. "How many times did you get brushed by a Sawtooth? The effects usually disappear on their own, but the more contact you have with one the longer it takes. We've got a bit of salve to speed it up, just need to know how much."

Others administered the anti-paralytic salve to those that needed it. By the time basic first aidhad been applied to the assembled students, the ship had soared over the wharf sidemarketplace and begun it's descent. Beckoning them to follow, leading them to her office. Sitting down she motioned at nearby chairs and cushions for them to follow.

"Welcome to Menagerie" she said with a tired smile, "though not the most auspicious start unfortunately. While I'm always pleased to see my daughter and her friends i need to ask... what are you doing here? Since the destruction of the comm tower in Vale, information is harder to come by. Last I knew you all were in the refugee camp."
She looked around at the assembled group, waiting for someoneto offer up an explanation.

Croc and Bruno
After some first aid and a short ride to shore, the team was to lead Blake's office. On the way, Croc and Bruno looked around quite interested. Neither of them could recall the last time they have seen so many faunus in one area. Bruno felt a little out of place as the only human on the team and now on the island. But Bruno was always interested in new adventures so he looked forward to what may come of it and hope it would be a net positive in the end.

When Blake asked what they were doing here, Croc saw this as a golden opportunity to take the lead of the team. "As the leader of this current team, I'll explain, The names Croc Sustrai by the way." Croc said staying stood up as Bruno sat down in one of the seats. "You see we are taken to Vacuo so time ago and there we were split up into teams and given missions to collect plants need to finish Professor Victor Carmine antidote for grimm problem in Vale. He's a teacher at Shade academy by the way. Moving on We were sent here to collect a plant called the Pandraji or Primula cristoniana. It's a plant that grows in the underwater caverns near here." Croc said explaining why the came to Menagerie before taking a breath to speak more. "On our way here our pilot to the airship we were got murder by... a former teammate of mine and Bruno whose now a sociopath. She then crashed the ship into the water, we got attacked by grimm and you can take guess what happened from there." Croc said finishing his explanation.

Iliaya Rosewood
Having already told Caenis to wait out front, namely because she wasn't wanting to lead the situation into a brawl like the one the pair had when they'd met, and also simply because her business was her own. It was also because, despite her intentions, she'd made a friend in the boy, and didn't want him involved if she was about to get herself into trouble.

And boy was she ever about to get herself into trouble.

She had made a deal, when they'd set out from the docks on the ship, that her aid in the rescue, provided she actually helped them out on the waters. The fact that she had spent the boat ride back half conscious in the bottom of the boat could attest to the fact. When all their weaponry had done little more than anger the sea beast, it was her that had broken her own aura reserves to send out what was in affect a sonar ping that drove them away. And if not for Caenis hauling out of the bilge water in the hull of the boat, she may very well have drowned.

But she had helped. So she had come to garner her reward, as promised.

Maybe it was the lack of aura making her restless. Perhaps that she had been forced to swap from her metal band to a pair of blacked out glasses. Maybe it just fed the beast hidden deep and dark inside her. One that seemed to want to come out the most when she let her vision reign, and her ears falter. But the truth was, when she'd come to the gates and requested to reward, and she'd been told to fuck off. It had been so long since she'd seen her father. So long since she had listened to his guidance, his pleas to live kindly, to do right.

These memories were quelled under the sounds of struggle as she threw a Faunus against the wall to her right.

If she'd been in her right mind, Iliaya would've recognised she was bleeding, and that the Faunus in question were unsure how to handle her. No aura, no protection, the first one to try to stop her had cut her arm. The rest were unsure of how to proceed from there.

"Don't any of you touch me!" she yelled as she watched the faunus from behind her blacked out goggles. Moving quickly, she stepped past the four guards and threw open the door to the office, seeing a handful of individuals inside, "Alright you furry fucks, I was promised information, and I'm not being denied it! You will help me find my father!"





OOC: Right, so, a bleeding, auraless, goggled Iliaya has just burst into Blake Belladonna's, probably insulted some faunus, and demanded her reward. She also looks like hammered shit and probably is still soaked with seawater.

Tsana Luna KhanWhen Tsana was escorted off the boat and onto the mainland, she was met with the disbelieving stares of some of the locals. The whispers of the Khan heir returning, and being escorted by the Belladonna faction’s White Fang, no doubt stirred up a rumors with the locals. She held her head down in not shame, not embarrassment, but in disappointment. Here she was, returning to her home, and she wasn’t ready to be home. She hadn’t prepared mentally to face the rumors, not ready to face this. She thought she was ready to be home, but now that she was, she wasn’t.

Shuffling to the side, Tsana hid herself behind Culpeo and held onto his upper arm. She felt, alone right now, and through it all, she felt she could trust Culpeo. Once they arrived at the Belladonna compound, she still stood next to Culpeo as Croc took over for what they were doing. That may have been the reasoning for the others coming here, but for Tsana, she wanted to stake her claim in the White Fang politics and propose her idea to Blake Belladonna. She just couldn’t open her mouth and speak. Something was telling her no.

So when a random, bloodied, wet, and blind? Girl broke through the door, Tsana on reflex withdrew her sword and swung it up to her neck. “Who are you and who do you think you’re speaking to, human?” Tsana spoke out. From the outside, Tsana's sensitive hearing picked up the sound of a sigh.

Culpeo Albain
Having applied the provided salve heavily to his arm Culpeo was already getting the feeling back in his arm once they landed and he stepped off the ship into a swirl of mixed feelings, on one hand Menagerie was his home and always would be but on the other his involvement in the White Fang revealed an ugly underworld of the place. Then there was how Tsana responded to her homecoming, the normally vibrant girl had taken to huddling behind him from the onlookers, laying a hand over where she held his arm he stood tall and led the way ignoring the stares and chatter around them.

In the office he shot an incredulous glance at Croc as the thief declared himself the leader of the group and glanced at Tsana expecting a furious objection from her but got nothing. When the drown-ratted human busted through the door Culpeo drew his weapons and held one ready to stab the intruder right alongside Tsana if she proved as hostile as the language she used to refer to faunus. "I'd suggest you choose your words with greater care if you intend to find anything here."

Croc and Bruno
After declaring himself the leader of the group Corc thunder was taken quickly by the random women who like she was going collapse at the slightest wind. "Furry fucks? I'm a reptile and he's a human. Get your insults right!" Croc stated firmly.

"That is what you took from her storming in?" Bruno asked Croc as he got up.

"No, but it needed to be to said, anyways..." Croc said grabbing a nicknack from Belladonna's desk and preparing to throw it at the intruders head. "...Let's just knock her out, take her a hospital, and then figured out what the hell she wants" Croc said after throwing the object.

"Couldn't just skip the first two steps and just ask her now what she wants?" Bruno asked.

"Good point Bruno, this is why you're the second in command of the team. Anyways ms.whats your face what information do you want and why do think you deserve it?" Corc asked still prepared to throw the nicknack.

Blake BelladonnaBlake made a couple of notes on a sheet of paper in front of her at the crocodile faunus's explanation. She had been about to press for more information when Iliaya barged in. She narrowed her eyes briefly at the supsequent outbursts from the students and was further surprised when Croc had grabbed a snowglobe from her desk. She took a breath to steady herself and tented her fingers.

"Enough" she said sharply. She took in the children in front of her. "All of you." She turned her attention immediately to the Beacon students. "While I appreciate your concern and promptness to defend me,you still have things to learn as Huntsmen. Illiaya here is clearly in no condition to fight anyone. If you take a moment to look at her you can see she is exhausted both physically and mentally. She clearly doesn't have much, if any aura left to defend herself. We are also in the middle of my estate and if she had seriously posed a threat she would have been stopped immediately, her condition aside."

She rounded on Iliaya. "As for you Miss Rosewood, if you think for even a moment that this attitude warrants any sort of assistance you are sorely mistaken. My daughter and her companions are quite right. You will watch your tongue and wait outside until I have called you in. I did indeed agree to help you and give you whatever information I could obtain, and intend to honor our bargain, but this is not the way to obtain it." Her tone softened slightly. "I understand the urgency but we have only just gotten back and I haven't been able to even begin to start a search for what you are looking for. Now please, go wait outside and I will call you in when I am ready for you."

She had gone back to her papers for a second, noticing another three people were missing. She sighed heavily before an idea came to her. "On second thought Iliaya, stay. Perhaps you can put your energies to helping my daughter and her friends after you've all rested up given the ordeal you've all gone through. And Caenis as well. Being idle doesn't suit everyone." She looked back to the assembled group, the ghost of a smile touching her lips as she remembered being their age with an important mission being placed on her shoulders.

"The plant you're looking for. I'm afraid i don't know if it offhand or where to find it. I'll do what i can to find what you need, but I'll need a few days. We're stretched very thin right now and if what you've told me is true then there's more trouble brewing. First, rest up. All of you. Afterwards see what you can dig up on your own. I'd start in the wharf market. The sailors would know the waters around here better than anyone. In themeantime, is there anything else I can do for you?"

Croc and Bruno
"Fine" Croc said placing the snowglobe back on the desk, well not before he shook it a little. "That why I was only going to throw a snowglobe, it would knock her out do little damage otherwise" Croc explained after Blake stated the intruder had a very little aura at the moment.

"I think her point was not to have her hurt at all and she wasn't a concern because she's in a weaken state at the moment," Bruno explained to Croc.

"Never underestimate someone, even when they aura low, it like my dad told me and my brother when we trained. When your opponent is on their last breath, watch them carefully as they may use those breaths to take you down with them" Croc explained remembering back to when he was training with Slate under Mercury. "... You know I really do prefer training with my mother when I think about it" Croc added. Then he shut up as Blake continued on, saying she wanted the woman about to fall over to help him and the team and for them to rest a bit before beginning their search.

"Well we could use more hands," Bruno said, figuring Blake knew best and figure that even with her rude entrance Lliaya was someone reliable.

"Correct you are Bruno my good man" Croc said smirking and clapping his hand together. "So team, how about we get some well-needed rest after our near death experience with the sea Grimm, and make sure our new friend gets medical treatment before she passes out badly. Then in the morning we began our mission proper and get to searching." Corc said turning to the rest of the team still smirking.

Story TellerThe decision made by the self proclaimed leader of the team, everyone decided to get some rest for the day before starting out first thing in the morning. Meeting outside of the Belladonna Estate, those of you who don't have other business they would like to attend to make your way down to the wharf-side market as Blake suggested. While the weather is warm, the salt-stained breeze causes a chill in the air.

The wharf and the attached market was a cacophony of sights, smells, and sounds. The boats could be heard creaking as the rose and fell on the waves and the gulls fill the air with the beating of wings and the sounds of their cries. The smell of the salty breeze and fresh paint from the sea wall were prominent for the smells. With the tide high, it avoided the harsh smell of fish that came with low tide. The ocean brought life, movement and a place to rest the eyes away from the bustle of life.

All around are people. Shopping, window gazing, drinking coffee at one cafe or another. A girl looks at Croc before nudging her friends. The glance over before going back to their hushed conversations and giggles.

Those familiar with the area however make note of how much more desolate the marketplace is. Several stores on the primary road are boarded up, the crowds are remarkably thin for this time of day, and the sounds of the crowds are muted. Few people travel by themselves. Several people make a wide berth around those of you who have come, their faces wary and full of distrust with only nods of acknowledgement and strained smiles to Onyx, a face they know well. This is the common state for people walking around on their own, often rushing off if approached with vague apologies of needing to be somewhere. An aura of fear and nervousness comes off of nearly all of the pedestrians. There are two Faunus in particular on their own that are willing to meet your eyes.

There is a fisherman with an easygoing smile but wild glint in his orange eyes. He floats beside a small boat filled with fish of various sizes and colors, and has propped himself on the pier, his lower half remaining in the water to stare unabashedly at the newcomers. He calls out to you “Ah! Some fresh blood on the isle. If you’re looking for deep sea Tuna you’d be hard pressed to find better than mine. Come take a look”

Sitting in the terrace at a nearby café is a woman with small protrusions from her mouth, fanglike in appearance. Brown long hair sits gently over her sharp face. Her eyes drift slowly as looks around the entire area with a lazy air, quite ignoring her steaming cup in front of her but Culpeo, you notice that her gaze lingers on you and Tsana for a few moments. Her mouth twitches upwards slightly at the ends in a smile as she pushes the seat across from her out with her feet before continuing her observation of the harbor

Croc and Bruno
"Alright team, time to get to work," Corc said standing in front everyone, full of confidence. "We should split up and see what the locals know about the plant" Croc continued and was going talking about what teams they would split up in until he noticed a girl and her friends looking at him. "umm anyways, I going to see what I can dig up over there" Croc said pointing at a cafe near the girls. "If you find anything or need help to send a group message on your scroll to the rest of us. Good? Good." Croc said before going off on his own.

Bruno watched as Croc went off. "He bouncing back quite nicely from his break up," Bruno said smiling before hearing the call from a fisherman. Bruno walked over to the fisherman and his boat. "Look like you got more than just tuna here," Bruno said as he came up to the fisherman. "Do you catch near shore or out deeper in the waters?" Bruno asked trying to get feel for how well the fisherman knew of the area.

Meanwhile, Croc made way to girls, going the long way through as to try to sneak up them and surprise them. On his way, Croc snuck a pass a flower stand where he snatched a single brightly colored red flower. Shortly afterward Croc reached the group fine young women, he tapped the girl who was looking at him earlier, gave a gentlemanly bow and said: "I'm curious were you fair ladies looking over at me because of the tail..." Croc paused as he swished his tail back and forth for a moment. "...Or just because I'm a new face here. Either way, though I think wonderful to meet such a beautiful group of new faces as all of you" Croc said straightening up his stance. "oh before I forget, this is for you miss...?" Croc said hinting at want to know the girls name as he offered her the flower he had taken.

In the most unsurprising turn of events she could've expected, it seemed that in her hunt for answers was leading her to help more people again. Currently Iliaya was walking along, if not mostly away from, the group she'd stormed in on back at the White Fang complex. As it had turned out, rather than being booted out for demanding her reward as opposed to being turned away and told she'd be found later, as they'd originally stated, she was offered a, wait for it, it's a big surprise, another job to do! Which was apparently to help the group some task or another.

And as much as she would've like to tell them to so sit on a pinecone, she did need the help. Caenis may have been sticking by her, despite her occasional prickliness, but the Fang, on Menagerie, was likely her best bet to track down answers or leads. Still, in the time it took the group to get ready to leave, she'd been able to recover a ways and dry off, which meant she was back to wearing her circlet around her eyes, something that gave her far less a headache than when relying on her eyes.

Having left the complex, they eventually had made their way to the market place, someplace she'd been cautious about coming to since meeting Caenis, as she'd sniffed out the gang from earlier a handful of times, and because the brawl in the streets had never been properly handled by the authorities, and for all she knew they were still looking for a pair of humans. Still, in her time still coming through on slow days she recognised where they were at, and namely recognised the fisherman she'd often bought fish from. As such, while the one with the tail she'd initially mistaken for a human with her eyes ran off to make a fool of himself, Iliaya found herself prompted to follow after the other, who approached her favorite fishermonger and asked him about his wares.

Approaching with a smile towards the fisherman, she gave an answer in lieu of the man, "Well, you certainly don't get deep sea tuna on the coastline. By the way, the last two cuts you sold me? Phenomenal. I don't know the label or name of the spice, but I smelled out this one seasoning that goes amazing if you bake the fish with it. I'll have to bring it by sometime to show you so you can try it yourself," she spoke cheerfully, honestly pleased to get to tell the fisherman about how much she'd enjoyed the last meal she'd gotten from his wares. Turning to better face her new 'ally', Iliaya gave a pensive frown before speaking further, "And Bruno, I think I heard at some point, if you're ever feeling adventurous with your palate, you should check out the tidal eels he has on occasion. Only ever has them for a few days after a full moon, but they have this flavor to them you won't find anywhere else I know of."

She was hoping, not only to compliment the fisherman and continue to build rapport with him, but to also 'butter him up' as it were, hoping that the faster she helped these people with their goal, the sooner she could get back to tracking down leads on her father. While she understood the give and take system, she just was certain someone like the leader of the White Fang understood what it meant to have to go it alone, hunting down answers with no one to help you.

After a moment of thought, however, a smile flickered at the edges of Iliaya's mouth.

'Almost no one... Caenis has been. Well, I may not know what to make of him all the time, but Caenis has my back.'

It was a odd realisation, not that he had her back, but that it'd taken her almost a month to finally recognise it. But it was true, Caenis had stuck by her since that day in the market. She really needed to pay more heed to it too, or at least she felt she did. They'd both gotten along quite well too, and she didn't even know simple things, like what color he was, but he'd been sticking by her regardless. At this point she'd almost assume he was bright pink and stuck by her simply because she couldn't judge him for it. Regardless of the reason, however, Iliaya realised that she needed to pay more mind to those around her, especially when they were so helpful and kind.

Next time she got the chance in private, she was definitely going to make sure she thanked the young man for sticking by her.

Culpeo Albain
Strolling through the market with a forced demeanour of calm Culpeo kept within arm's reach of Tsana and tried to keep an eye on their group's most recent addition while also glancing at any onlookers warily. He could feel the underlying tension in the people around them, what few there were in what was normally just about the busiest place in Menagerie. Still a few people stood out, a nearby young lady seemed to be gossiping with her friends about Croc and he seemed to think it was a good time to go on the pull. "Fine just remember to do some actual work while you're at it."

Hearing some odd fisherman calling out to them while still half-submerged which seemed like a good way to get his lien soaked Culpeo waved a little. "I'm alright for now, thank you." He said politely in response to the sales pitch, he usually preferred meat to fish most days anyway. Continuing his survey he spotted the fanged woman watching him and Tsana and frowned at the silent invitation, letting his gaze keep roving he leaned in closer to Tsana's ear. "There's a brown-haired woman with some sort of fangs sitting at the cafe to our left watching us, seems she wants us to come over." Hesitating he risked another glance at the observer. "I think we should oblige."

Caenis Altan and Tsana Luna KhanLocation: Menagerie
Nearby: People
@Tags: IG42 ChazGhost LoneSniper87 Brinni Chak

Story Teller
The snake girl laughed. "Oooh, fair ladies are we?" she cackled. She was tall and lanky, her dark brown hair shocked with streaks of green.

"Oh hush Jaz. Some people go for that" retorted the blonde. The shortest of the four, she was well toned, with a pair of feline ears atop her head. Her arms crossed before her as she stuck her tongue out at her friend.

The girl with red hair with black spots and a pair of antennae, the one that pointed you out, rolled her eyes. "Both of you stuff it. He's being polite. Quite nice of him considering you two were laughing at him." She smiled apologetically at the green-haired faunus. "Excuse my friends" she said, taking the flower. She sniffed it, smilling before sliding it behind her ear. "It is mostly because you're new faces. You sort of stick out. Although..." she pondered motioning for him to wait a moment as she walked around him, inspecting him. "The tail isn't bad either. Must be cumbersome though. As for my name..." a smile lit her eyes. "I'm afraid you'll have to earn mine."

The two loud-spoken girls behind her laughed.

"Even after he brought you a flower?" the one they called Jaz asked.

"Of course. That's the ante to get in the game" she said. "Now he gets to choose if he wants to play."

The fourth one, a sweet faced slip of a thing with honey brown hair, and a tail to match stood smiling shyly behind them. "Well since nobody else will introduce themselves I suppose I will. I'm Lilly. That's Jasmine, though we just call her Jaz, and that's Crystal." She motioned to the snake and other cat faunus respectively. "And she...well she's already made her choice not to have you know yet so it's not really my place to say." The color that flushed on her pale cheeks was very pronounced as she looked back down.
---
He waves you over with great enthusiasm, laughing at his good fortune which quickly turned to a quizzical look at Bruno's inquiry. “Ya daft boy? I did say deep sea tuna didn't I? Can't very well catch deep sea tuna close to shore....though I suppose you could if somethin was pushin them out of their home." He brightened visibly at Iliaya's remark. "Well now, happy you liked it. I'd imagine it was one of Lady O's spices. She always seems to have the right mix. What can I interest you in today? Tuna? Eel? Carp? Shark…wait don’t have none of that right now. Ok so no shark.” His words come out rapidly before he stops and squints at Caenis. “Wait just a damn minute. I seen you before….yeah! You’re the ones that showed those cretins what for just down the road there. Oh one sec” He dives below the surface and immediately comes back up. “Much better. Was feeling a bit dry. Anyways, yeah. That was quite the show you put on. Don’t worry, I won’t say nothin to the cops. They had it comin’, and besides they’re a bit busy as of late.” He slaps his forehead with the palm of his hand. “Where’s me manners. Forgot to introduce myself. Most people round here know me so it slips my mind sometimes. You can call me Clem. What can I help you with?”
---
The woman crossed her legs and took a sip of her mug. She smiled faintly as the two made their way over, taking in their appearance. Young. But they both have a look of hardship. Children of Fang or Beacon students likely. He noticed me, but she led him around. She's the power between them. Placing the cup down gently she kept her smile up. "A homecoming, indeed? Well then. Welcome back home. I'd guess it's been some time since you've been here. At the very least I don't recognize you." She placed a finger to her lips in thought. "But I suppose that's not too strange given I've only been here a couple of years" She extended her hand across the table. "Ah. How rude of me. I beg your apologies for not introducing myself. I'm Charlotte, but most people call me Charlie. I'm glad you accepted my invitation to sit a spell." Retracting her hand after introductions she folded her arms on the table.

Croc and Bruno
Things seemed to start off interesting in Croc introduction to locals, as his introduction was meant with laughter from a fellow scaled Faunus. But happily the other of the group were nicer. Croc looked to tail when the red hair girl commented it must be cumbersome. "Not as much as you think, is I've lived with it my whole life, I figured out how to use it instead of letting it get in my way. It provides a nice boost when I swim and a useful weapon when I get in a fight." Croc responded.

Then introductions went around, except for the red hair girl as it seemed she wanted Croc to earn learning her name. "A game to learn your name? Well, I'm always up for a challenge. Oh before I forget, my names Croc Sutrai, Huntsman in training and master... of sleight of hand" Croc said pausing before saying thief as he didn't want to outright say he's a thief in a new place, full of possibilities. "So what do I have to do to earn the pleasure of learning your name?' Croc asked with a grin on his face.
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Bruno regretted the phrasing of his question as he heard the fisherman's answer to it. But luckily Iliaya and Caenis came over as well and were able to steer the conversation a better direction. "Thank you Iliaya" Bruno whisper to her as she was faring much better in getting hopefully information then he was. "It's nice to meet you Mr.Clem, I'm Bruno Port" Bruno said introducing himself. "First if you have it, I'll take some tidal eel if you have it... and maybe squid, if you have that, to" Bruno, said looking at the pile fish and taking Iliaya gish recommendation seriously. "Second I was curious about the local water and precisely the underwater caverns near here" Bruno continued as went into his wallet to get money for the eel.

Culpeo Albain
Culpeo was still prepared to be huffy with Croc until Tsana spoke up obviously amused by the self-proclaimed leader's antics, he was prepared to put up with a lot worse if it helped Tsana lighten up. When she took his hand Culpeo stuttered for a moment but decided to just go with it and smiled along with her while she chattered and browsed. "Here, allow me." He said while taking some of the bags off her hands in a flare of chivalry.

Returning the nod Culpeo glanced around and didn't see anyone watching them too closely, deciding that remaining on his feet in the middle of the terrace would be too conspicuous he scrounged another chair from a nearby table and sat himself down where he could both keep an eye on the stranger and watch Tsana's back meanwhile his ear lazily swivelled picking up on nearby sounds. "I have been away from this place for a time but not so long that it's become unfamiliar to me. In any case it's good to receive a kind welcome from someone, I am Culpeo a pleasure to meet you Charlie." Pointedly leaving out his last name he lightly shook the outstretched hand.

Tsana smiled as Culpeo took some bags from her. They were rather heavy and were beginning to become a hassle. The food was worth it, despite the cost and the weight. Looking to the now introduced Charlie, Tsana let her tail flicker behind her, a sign to Culpeo that she was still cautious and alert. Someone was interested in them, and she wanted to know why. If any indication of the interactions, it showed that she wasn't aware of Tsana's connection to the Khan Fang. She had sent a message ahead via Team FLWR on her return. If she was to say what she said, a member of the Fang would respond with "And a clear sky to see the moon tonight." Charlie not saying it, did trigger something in her brain.

Shaking the offered hand, Tsana smiled. "It's nice to meet you Charlie." she responded. "Cu, you've already met, but I'm Luna." She decided to use her middle name, to keep suspicion away from her first name. It's not everyday you meet a wolf faunus named Tsana, talking about coming home to Menagerie. "It's been 10 or so years since I've been home. I was quite the rebellious young girl. I ran away and decided to see the world for myself, not learn of it from stories. In any case, Charlie, what is your favorite story? There's a myriad of them, and what is yours?"

Rather embarrassingly, Iliaya had to reign herself in from jumping in surprise as a hand she quickly allocated to Caenis came to rest on her shoulder. Given she could even hear the conversations of the other members of their group, much to her irritation in Croc's case, she was surprised she'd let herself get so caught up in thought in such a public place that she didn't even noticed those in her immediate vicinity. She knew better than that too, what if she'd walked right into the water after all?

"Oh, hey Caenis. May sound silly, but didn't realise you were right behind me. I..." she almost wanted to thank him right then and there, especially given his reassurance that he was there just as she'd been thinking about it, but this wasn't the time nor the place for personal matters, so she bit her tongue. Instead she found an alternate line of thought to continue with, "I don't suppose you happen to know of anyplace around here that we can get some rebreathers, do you? As much as I prefer to stay out of the ocean, I have a... ah...well, you know, sonar. That will help them. So I'll likely need to go diving with them."

The truth of it was that her sonar would actually mostly be used to mentally mapping any cave system she went swimming through. But if they were going into the ocean, no matter how deep or dark it would get, her sonar wasn't the trait that was going to give her the most advantage, but instead her eyes that would not be inhibited by the depths. It was a subtle reminder that her true strength rested in her body, not in her semblance, regardless of how reliant she'd come to be on it.

"If you want to go looking, I'd be glad to join you momentarily, I just want to make sure our new compatriot doesn't go asking any more silly questions," she smiled lightly, keeping her voice low. She may not have been the biggest fan of the new group, but antagonising them anymore, especially since she was stuck working with them, wasn't going to get them anywhere.