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((Gosh it makes me want to step in with Celine as well rofl...))

Zulma listened to Jacoba. She sighed as he called her 'dove' again, well she'll have to make due with that, after all there were worst names to be called. Her frown slowly gave way to a laughing smile. She was not giving up but she decided that despite his rough and obnoxious ways, he was not harmful. She had a chuckle as she shook her head, raising her eyes to the ceiling. Then she leaned in as well to answer in a conspiracy tone. If Lin would have probably run away at such a proximity, the innkeeper did not seem to mind at all. "Yes there are beautiful women around here, but behave or else...no rum." She gave a short nod to make sure he had understood the threat before walking passed him to the other side of the bar.
She pulled out a bottle of Captain Morgan spiced rum and a glass which she filled up.
"Straight I'm assuming?" she said the pirate as she did not diluted with any soft drinks.


Lin did not fully understand what the young man was talking about. Priority one? She came from a very secluded and peaceful place which had few machines and no war, so technology and military talks were mostly lost to her. She assumed that he was simply from another place. When she had first arrived at the Inn she had been overwhelmed by the chaos and the diversity of the guests, now she was used to it, although she was still weary at time of the vampires and other darker creatures.

"You may stay as long as you wish. I believe some rooms are available upstairs." she answered calmly. Her silver gaze drifted a moment towards Jacoba who was teasing Zulma-san. This man made too many ripples, she liked her calm. "There are always many things to be done around here. You can help if you wish."

Jeff chuckled. "Lady Warrior hmm? I'm sure she likes the title more than Innkeeper." his green eyes shifted from Amir to Zulma back to the man. "Don't protect her too much if you want her...friendship." said the adolescent in a surprisingly mature voice. His features took a more adult hint for a second as he remembered Baldur, another Guardian of the Inn and its keeper who had disappeared. He shook off the memory and listened to the Cleric.

Amir's opinion on Kenos was quite interesting. No shadow, yet no light. He shrugged. "I don't mind anyone as long as they respect the golden rule." he said.

The teen straightened up to be called Lord and Knight, his ego flattered for a second. "Well meet Lord Amir. I wish you the same. But please, don't call me Lord for I am no noble, as for Knight...I lost that right a long time ago as well." There was some anger in his voice as he spoke the last sentence.

(no issues I am enjoying meeting all of your characters (= I am sure Amir's commentary on lordship and nobility may be surprising.)

Amir looked at Zulma and Jacoda. He was not protecting her too much as Zulma more than definitely had control of this. He had no desires to overstep his bounds. Innerly the woman fascinated him but he'd never openly admit or show this. He cared about her as a friend. Just as he did his friends Ari and Layla. And Jolly who was becoming very much a sister and best friend. Speaking of sibling friends he should check on Utsu soon. That could be handled later. He decided to himself.

He looked back at Jeff and merely pushed up his shades. Listening to him and studied him. "I see there is a story behind those words. A story that is not my place to ask on. Wise beyond your years Jeff." He said. Looking at Zulma. "I don't intend to vanish on my friends...new or old. I can give you my word on that Jeff. The only way I'd vanish is if death were to take me...even then I'd try to let those I care about know somehow...that I wouldn't be coming back." He looked up the stairs.

"I have many things here that I wish to keep safe. An adopted sister like friend Layla. My friend Lady Zulma. This place that brings me peace. I feel I can relax to an extent here. Something I don't recall feeling in a long time." He smiled a bit. Then grew serious again. Looking at Kenos. "His behavior and the comments I've picked up with my ears tell me that male doesn't do...rule breaking. Just watching him all I see is soldierly formality and by the book military or warrior."

He looked back at Jeff. "If there is anyone here who'd break rules it is the pirate lord who is hitting on Lady Zulma and may have met his match in said female. Besides...she controls the rum...he is a pirate. Rum is an alcoholic addiction and weakness. At least from what I have seen of pirates." He said with a chuckle.

He grew serious as well. "Lord is not a title fitting only nobility Jeff. For there is those of noble blood who deserve no such title. Whereas there is those born gypsy or begger who hold more claim to nobility than those born to wealth or gain such title. In my travels I have seen this personally."

He looked at Jeff. "You do not have to be of noble blood to be of nobility worth Jeff. I do not say this empty resourced as I know well the ranks of nobility. Compared to many nobles even in the overworld...you are far more deserving of such rank than those born into it or given it for petty meanings."

He fell silent for a moment. "You can be a Knight...even when you are not feeling that. Or do not believe yourself as such. I often get called a Knight yet I am no knight Jeff. I merely have a strict moral code and high personal honor code that I hold myself to and adhere to. Knighthood comes in many forms. Mine is earned not given. You are more of a Knight than many I have seen who hold the title currently." He said with a genuine tone.

"A knight is based on how you are and act. The way you hold yourself and treat others. It is not by rank or noble status. If you adhere to a moral code and do what you feel is just and right...then you are in essence a Knight." He said with a regal lit hitting his tone. Then it was smothered out quickly. Shaking his head a bit.

"If you prefer me to refer to you as neither of those than I will not. If by your leave I may just call you Jeff." He said with a smile.

The door opened and shut, a few leaves scattering in at the man's ankles as a tall, pale man strode into the inn, an instrument case dangling by his knee. Tugging off his yellow scarf, Gren smiled at the bustle, looking about the Inn. "Nice to see the place buzzing."

"Ha ha! Wh-whoa there..!" he laughed, catching her with a slight bow into the hug, ever measured in motion. "I haven't been gone that long, Zulma...but I'll admit, it's great to see you."

He offered a crooked smile, patting her cheek. "How're you?"


(Tomorrow!)

Jeff had not replied to Amir before disappearing.

Zulma's smile as warm and wide, her golden eyes almost glowing as she looked at Gren. The attachment and love she felt for him were showing all over her face.
"I am glad. And I am doing fine thank you. How about you?" she asked, giving him one last squeeze before pulling from him.

"We have new guests." she did not know if Gren had met them so she did the introductions. "Lord Amir meet Gren, a very dear friend and fellow innkeeper. Gren meet Lord Amir, a new friend made during the last war." Her lips had a small smirk as she looked at Amir. Yes she had used the word friend to describe him and it was not an accident.

"We have a pirate, a...soldier of kind, then Celine and Lin are back, Jeff is here too." she said with a gesture towards the room.

Celine waved happily towards Gren and Jeff peeked from the kitchen, this time an apple in hand. "Hey Gren." he said before plopping in a chair by the chimney with his apple and a book (which as highly unusual for the adolescent). The truth was, he was hoping to see someone whom he had not seen in a long time...

Zulma smiled. "Would anyone care for a drink?" she offered both Gren and Amir.

Zulma smiled.
"Of course, let me see what I can do."
She put some water to boil but it was not to make tea. She waited for Gren and Amir to tell her what they wanted.

The fairy man was wearing a normal white T-shirt and a pair of shorts, apparently just out of bed from the state of dishevelled hair and a slight droopiness of fatigue as he walked in to bow his head to the golden-headed woman putting the kittle on.

"Thank you very much, miss... Zulma? Think I've heard your name once or twice around here, is that right?"

Zulma nodded. "Zulma I am. And you are?" she asked Bure. She did not remember meeting him, but she had been on and off the Inn for so long that her memory was fuzzy at times.

"Of course we have some berry wine for you Lord Amir." answered the Innkeeper.

She poured a glass for him, inviting him to join Bure and her in discussion. She then mixed the hot water with some rum, smirking as she imagined that Jacoba probably would see that as an insult to the rum, then added honey.
"Here is your grog. This should help with the cold." she said to the fairy man.


Celine chuckled. "A dove? As you wish." she took a sip of the alcohol, a delighted grin on her face. "Jacoba Crow...you seem like the real stuff! I've never met a real pirate before. I'm Celine. Nurse, still studying to become a real doctor. I help here between my humanitarian missions."
Then she teased the captain. "Pirates are known to be evil...are you a dangerous man?"


Lin listened to Kenos and her eyes flickered. Her education had taught her to control her emotions and to some extend she did not feel as much as most people did but the idea of being programmed like a machine bothered her. Maybe because it was unfair to him that he were not able to experience so much of life, or maybe it was unfair to her who had tried so hard for so many years to live by a code and standards imposed upon her by her parents. It made her question herself and this was something that truly unsettled her.
Her cold gaze settled on the soldier.
"Yes it does Kenos-san." she said very calmly. "Programmed or not, if you are human, then you have free will. You decide of your own actions, the choice is yours and not the result of an external order."
She paused, still thinking about what he just said, about not registering pain until his mission was accomplished. How should one react to such words? Silence would have probably be her mother's answer. But could she remain silent?
"You can ask how you can help when you wish, but I will not give you a list of tasks which you have to do." she could feel that her explanations were probably not fully satisfactory and for a second, her jaws tensed.