[o] [SE] never think before I jump

Noe

It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me
At teatime, everybody agrees

Well, when he put things like that, she supposed that someone did have to make deliveries. But if it hadn’t been him, surely someone else would have stepped up to the task. For herself, Noe was perfectly content to stay in the civilized Regions of Caido. At least there, there was less of a chance of running across something actively trying to kill you. Even with the Family in Stormbreak, she didn’t feel like she was about to meet her end down a dark alley - not like she might out in the Wilds.

Still, she couldn’t help but sigh longingly at the thought of all of the amazing things out in the world that she’d yet to see. Perhaps she’d have to give the courier’s words some serious thought and train up before she went galavanting across the world.

”Well, for now I’m taking pretty much anything I can get,” she admitted with a grimace. ”Mostly it’s been small projects - nothing quite as big as a whole house. This is my biggest project yet,” she added, proudly raising her chin. It didn’t even matter if it was being done on a volunteer basis to get her name out there - it was still something that she was doing to help the community, and that was something to be proud of. ”We’ll see where things go from here.”

I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero

Someone was going to be in danger making the deliveries, and with all the blessings and - still weird to think it but - friends he'd somehow accreted to himself along the way, he was probably the best man for the job. Besides, he had his family traditions and pride to consider, and Tal was nothing if not proud of his work and of doing it well.

And after Soh had nearly been killed in dark Stormbreak alley by a would-be rapist, Tal wasn't exactly sold on Stormbreak being all that civilized even before it had gotten usurped by the Family.

But the labor of the day was keeping him mostly occupied, and he was more concerned with where the next obstacle was going to go than dwelling on the current dangers of the floating city. He grunted a wordless noise of understanding of Noe's trials in establishing her business as he started sinking the short posts for the over-under logs. "Well, if you're willin' t'work outside o'Stormbreak I can drop your name in Archon Sunjata's ear," he offered. Pausing to dust the grit from his hands he gave her a flicker of a wry grin. "King's End ain't th'most civilized yet, but we're workin' on it!" Shaking some extra sweat from his hair so it wouldn't drip in his eyes he bent down to drag one of the heavy logs into place with another grunt, and then moved into the next and the next after that until only one remained.

Noe

It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me
At teatime, everybody agrees

Noe was well aware of the seedy underbelly of Stormbreak - after all, with her brother and mother as Dragoons, how could she not be? - and yet it was one thing to hear stories and another to experience it for oneself. And seeing as she had only rarely been in danger, she was inclined to believe the best of her home. Other places in Caido, though… that they were dangerous, she could more easily understand.

In any case, she continued her efforts as they completed obstacle after obstacle until only the over-under logs were left. As they worked, Noe dragging over her own log and panting slightly as she maneuvered it into place, she continued to chat. ”Oh, really?” she asked, her voice lilting into a squeal of excitement at the end. ”That would be amazing, actually! Have tools, will travel,” she added with a laugh.

I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero

Tal dusted his hands off as Noe dropped the last log into place and stepped back to look over their work with a critical eye. He muttered to himself, checking a few measurements, before finally relaxing and crossing his arms over his chest with a self-satisfied grin. "Well, y'did good work here, so I can vouch for ya," he assured her. "I don't get much one-on-one time with th'Archon, but next time I do I'll be sure to mention your name t'him. We're workin' on expandin' so there's always construction projects an' stuff in New Haven." Hail, he could have used her help when they'd built the Skyport!

Boreal came racing back around a corner and whuffed with surprised glee to find the completed obstacle course waiting for her. She flung herself at it with eager abandon, encouraging Mika to chase her through the course. Sure, she might have cheated a little by using her wings to overcome those challenges that required thumbs, but soon enough she careened to a halt by the humans, panting happily as Tal tried to hold back a laugh at her antics. 'Right, well, I should prob'ly head back now, but it was good meetin' you, Noe. Anytime y'need a package delivered, look me up! I've got an office here in Stormbreak y'can drop it off at, an' I'll grab it th'next time I'm through."

With a jaunty - and not exactly military - salute the courier collected his dragon and headed out, looking like he'd actually enjoyed the chance to work with his hands for a little while.

~Fin