World Tree MUSH

    It's a couple of days after the rescue of Neviah. On the way home, the Crimson Wind needed considerable help, being barely able to walk or move. As she explained it, the powerup she used allows her to approach the realm of the gods, but it takes a fittingly heavy toll; the strain of filling herself with divine wind is almost too much for a mortal body to bear, so she's basically suffering a particularly severe whole-body bruise. The first day afterward, she pretty much didn't come out of her room, and kept it locked. If anyone tried to check on her, they'd have gotten answers through the door that sounded like she'd been asleep until they knocked or called out.

    But now, it's late in the evening, after closing time, and a familiar sound of wooden sandals on wooden planks is coming down the stairs. What's not familiar is how slowly and cautiously the redhead is moving, though; normally casual and relaxed with an undercurrent of liveliness, Kanna Ouji is coming down the stairs with the careful, controlled gait of someone for whom... well, every step aches.

    Believe it or not... Lether is one of the people who came to check on Kanna while she was locked in her room. Though she didn't pry, even if she could pick the lock, that would just be uncouth and rude and opted to let the Crimson Wind get her much needed rest.
    So tonight, Lether is working the taproom- that is to say she's mopping up after a long evening of helping Lif serve patrons and doing other bar related things, she looks up as she hears the wooden sandals.
    "... Oh. Hey. You're finally up."

    It actually takes Kanna a second to notice the source of the sound, which is another subtle tell that she's still recovering. "Huh-? Ah, Lether. Yo~," the samurai greets.

    "Owowow..." she adds, after another step.

    As the swordswoman reaches the ground floor, she mutters, "I got hungry enough to come down and fix myself something to eat. Already regretting it. Transforming makes it way harder to take it easy-" Her words die in her throat and her entire body goes still, as she realizes she's let something slip. Her cheeks are already turning bright red, but she seems resolute in pretending she didn't say anything. She'll just... walk towards the kitchen, using Shinsatsufuu like a cane. Thump. Thump. Thump. Didn't say a word.

    "Yo."
    To her credit, Lether is already scooting over, offering to help Kanna along. Whether the offer of aid is taken or not, the lizardfolk girl peers. Especially when Kanna starts turning red.
    "What are you ashamed of?" She asks point blank.
    "You're strong. There's nothing to blush over that." She says as the swordswoman heads into the kitchen.
    While Kanna does that...
    Lether pours two mugs of cold frothy beer out.
    "So what were you thinking of making?"

    Kanna doesn't seem to object to the help, although she does hiss in pain lightly at the contact. "...I'm not ashamed of anything," the redhead says after a moment, frowning. "You really didn't notice what I just said?" If it were anyone else, she would have left it at that... but as near as she can tell, no one else is listening other than maybe the poltergeist, and Lether has earned a modicum of trust.

    "Didn't have any plans for what to make. Something easy. Bacon and sausage maybe, I saw we got a fresh delivery."

    "Yeah. You said 'transform', and I don't really get it." Lether admits as she passes over the mug of beer.
    "So you wanna explain it? Because all I remember is you turning into a blur so fast even I had trouble tracking you."
    Lif is probably around but he can't verbalize anyway so it really is just Lether around at the moment.
    And she proceeds to plop into a chair.
    "Hey if you're making anything with meat..."
    Lether would clearly like some considering Kanna's cooking is the best she's ever tasted. Ever.
    

    "I didn't mean that, I..." Once again, Kanna hesitates. There's a frown. But after everything they've dealt with in the past few weeks, and especially with her feeling responsible for part of it, there's a temptation to share. To be honest.

    After a moment, she says in a softer voice, "...I've been transformed every time you ever saw me. Including right now." She carefully hobbles her way over towards the kitchen, but there's a brief, slightly stiff look over her shoulder. "...I'll take the beer later. Just stand at the door, let me know if anyone else comes down the stairs." She doesn't respond to the remark about the meat... but does she really have to? She makes no secret that she enjoys cooking for others.

    "... So you de-transformed?" Lether asks as she blinks once.
    Sideways.
    It's that nictitating membrane again.
    But Lether waves a hand, "No one else is around at this hour. Neviah's studying in her room and I got no clue where everyone else is. But yeah I gotcha, I'll keep an eye out.
    If there's anything a rogue is good at it's the shady business of being a lookout for more shady business in action.
    Oh she's already salivating though at the thought of Kanna's cooking.

    Kanna eyes Lether for a moment, almost looking confused. But she opts to not reply; Lether will understand soon enough.

    The first hint of something odd is the fact there's a brief breeze as Lether approaches the door to the kitchen. It lasts only a second or two, and then it's business as usual. The sound of burners being lit, the sound of prep happening... perhaps a bit slower than usual, but happening nonetheless. And once Lether is actually standing at the door, she'll be able to watch the Crimson Wind cook.

    ...where did the Crimson Wind go?

    The girl separating out strips of bacon does not have red hair. The girl shaping portions of sausage into patties does not have red eyes. The girl carefully tracking the temperature of her skillets does not keep her hair in a ponytail, nor does she wear a scarf, a sleeveless kimono top, or a billowing hakama.

    A black-haired young woman with yellow-brown eyes is currently working in the kitchen, moving stiffly, with an apron over a very simple grey kimono that looks a bit battered.

    Shinsatsufuu is leaned against a nearby counter, though.

    That sure was a breeze. Indoors.
    That makes no sense but Lether draws nearer anyway, too emboldened by the thought of smelling that cooking and--...
    "..."
    ???
    "???"
    The confused raygun chirp says it all. No longer in the dark lighting of the undermountain, Lether sees someone who isn't Kanna doing the cooking. She tilts her head. There's Shinsatsufuu at least.
    Lether opens her mouth to say something.
    Her stomach speaks before she does with a loud growl.
    Lether closes her mouth. And she decides to just observe for now.

    The girl definitely moves with the Crimson Wind's surety in the kitchen... or at least, as much as she'd have when her entire body aches enough to hobble her. Sausage patties go in one skillet, bacon goes in the other, and there's one or two side-glances as the girl works.

    "...I gave you part of it before," the girl says in a soft voice, specifically intended not to carry past the kitchen, "But the full name is Kanna Ouji. First and only child of Hozan Ouji, third-generation head of the Ouji Trading Company."

    If Lether keeps an ear on the city's mercantile goings-on, the Ouji Trading Company is a relative newcomer to the city, but they have good business savvy and have been making a name for themselves. More importantly, they come from a world that only recently Blossomed, and there have been subtle rumors that they're looking for a black-haired young woman who has gone missing.

    "Been years since I broke out of the gilded cage, and I got no intention of going back. I don't let anyone see this face, because I don't want word getting back to my dad and making my life harder."

    "Oh."
    Okay.
    OKAY, now Lether is getting things here.
    Especially now that the name Hozan Ouji gets dropped in connection with Kanna's FULL name. Because now that she is a legitimate and respectable business owner, the lizardfolk HAS ben keeping an ear to the ground.
    They may be new to the city but new folk always garner a lot of attention when they have money and know how to use it.
    "Got it." She says simply.
    Who knew she was adventuring with the daughter of a rich trade company mogul?! Certainly not Lether.
    "That must have sucked huh." She considers. "Yeah well. I got no intention of snitching. Especially if you're gonna keep feeding me."
    Easiest way to a gator's heart is their stomach, after all.

    "Heh. The lizard's not immune to bribes, huh?"

    There's a teasing tone to Kanna's voice. The bacon is already just about done, and she goes about sliding it onto a pair of plates, but the sausage patties still need a bit more time after being flipped. "...But yeah, rich people got their problems too. They're different problems, but they're still problems." While she waits for the sausage to finish, the black-haired heiress leans against the counter next to Shinsatsufuu. "Don't go anywhere unless I say it's okay. Don't make friends unless they or their family can be useful. Don't do anything that will embarrass us. Don't take any uncouth, unrefined hobbies. Do what we say. Go where we say. Be our little puppet. Bring us prestige."

    There's a growing bitterness with every word, but Kanna seems to realize she's getting heated, and reins herself in with a soft huff. "I couldn't stand it. I'd give up a fancy ceiling and sleep under the stars for the rest of my life if it means I can be me."

    Lether smiles. ... Aside from the jagged rows of teeth, it's actually a nice smile.
    "The lizard is not immune to bribes~." She says.
    Bacon though... Bacon is good.
    "If there's anything I learned on the streets, it's that everyone has their problems." She confirms as Kanna starts meandering through those bitter memories.
    Lether shrugs though.
    "Under the stars? Nah, you don't gotta do that. There's room waiting here for you, now."

    There's a few seconds where Kanna just stares at Lether, a complex look on her face. But finally, she replies with a soft, "...thanks. That means a lot."

    Quietly, the young woman reaches down to rest a hand on Shinsatsufuu's grip; then come words like a chant, soft and rote. "O Wind, carry me whither the steel rings. Carry me whence comes the the scent of blood. Wheresoever lies the field of battle, thither carry me with all haste." A small whirlwind starts in the kitchen, focused around Kanna. Wisps of crimson air whirl around her, reshaping her clothes into the familiar red-and-white, flowing through her hair and changing the hue. Eyes turn red to match, and then a tight vortex of wind ties her hair into that recognizable ponytail. It ends with a gust that seems to whip her scarf into being.

    Other than a light flutter, nothing in the kitchen is really disturbed by that whirlwind. But it's the Crimson Wind that steps over to the stove with stiff movements, starting to shift sausage patties onto each plate. "...to explain what I meant before, when I'm hurting like this... bein' transformed is rough. I move faster, see faster, think faster. I gotta be a lot more careful controlling my movements like this, or it hurts like hell," she finishes, heading toward the door with a plate in each hand.