Year-End Festival [Year-End Holidays] Winter-Nights (Yule) Solstice Spectacular! (YE 44)

Sweet Cream Booth
Yue’s lips curled up into that of a smile as she saw Kaoru grinning from ear to ear. It pleased her to see Kaoru so happy as the much shorter blue skinned girl had preferred rather than how Kaoru had been before, during their meeting with the elders and everything. Though the short girl wasn’t sure if the idea she had was a masterpiece worthy she knew with both Kaoru, and Tachiko’s help she was certain that it will become one. Yue waited for her order to arrive as she sat there. “Yup, I’m coming! Though I still remember the last time I managed a major trip like this. But now, I have family and loved ones, especially” she said.

Tokyo Brewing Company Area​

The bartender flashed Kari another smile in response, "Thanks! Helps keeps things interesting for me." She quieted and tried to look busy but was clearly paying attention to the very vivid dream the pair were talking about, only making her quietly think aloud by the end, "I suppose most species could ride me." Thinking of the logistics of volume rather than weight was a total Nekovalkyrja thing.

Akina and Katsuko - Outside​

The recently reworked body of the shorter of the two couple leaned into the side of the other while she spoke and it felt like they just drifted down the path thanks to fresh snow battling against the crowds. Akina ensured that her arm as closer to Katsuko than her own before ending where they held hands. "Making ourselves able to be truly happy was long overdue. I can't think of anyone else that deserves it more than you." It was easy to simple hear the warm hum in her voice the next time she exhaled, sending her breath to mingle with the snowflakes. What felt so important to her was that they were together at all again, she didn't really give herself credit the way her wife did. "As far as I'm concerned you could have shown up at any moment in my office. I just got tired of feeling that way first, I knew what it was for too long." Oh, and another kiss, though it was pressed warmly to her jawline.

The smile Katsuko felt on her skin widened as someone passing by let out a rowdy, "Oooo, get it girl!"

"They are the ones who made this really special, well that and Kyoto herself. I was worried I'd have to make snow until two days ago." The urge to go join the snowball fight was harder to fight with how positively giddy Akina felt. "Oh, it is her." She thought a moment about their lack of presents in hand though was quick to reassure Katsuko, "Well, that makes two of us. Only the ones I was reminded of were sent out. We could throw in a lifetime of upgraded KiNet, or something? Any hub, account, or whatever she makes would do well. Though she's as busy as any of us already." When they finally got to the pair she lifted her mug and toasted them warmly, "Happy Winter-Nights, and a Happy New Years to you Hanako! I'm so happy you all made it." Who knew the next time she'd see her?

Winter-Nights Lights Pavilion​

"Where?" Thia repeated as she unfocused her eyes and clicked her jaw, overlaying a waveform of the audio clip she'd heard in passing. Since she only had one cybernetic ear, she didn't have the benefit of binaural and directional hearing to give her a quick estimate, but she tagged the sound with accelerometer and location data. Since she was moving, it was enough to triangulate a location using an old program that she had often used before her army days. Once it was finished, she started a search for other mentions of "wassail" in her recordings.

Pointing towards the snow cream booth, Thia started moving in that direction. The way she so easily kept her balance while walking quickly in such deeply impractical shoes on snowy surfaces made it almost seem like they were a part of the illusionary volumetrics that surrounded her in a hyperlocalized blizzard. "This way, roughly 10 meters. An older neko's voice. Going to get snow cream and wassail before getting back on the ice."

As she walked, a hit came up in her search. "Another neko, approximately the same age, replied that she wanted wassail. Same vicinity," Thia continued to note as she went directly towards where she'd heard the voices, though she glanced back at Vec with a wry smile. "I have pretty good hearing."

Tokyo Brewing Company Area​

Looking down at Pierre's hand on her own, Kari's tail began rhythmically moving from side to side and she felt a rush of excitement followed by confusion. This wasn't the first time she had ever touched anyone, yet somehow it felt as exhilarating as her first away mission on the Wakaba. Why though? Her steely grey eyes rose to meet Pierre's warm brown gaze and she noticed that they had leaned in closer to her. Feeling her breath catch in her throat, she felt overwhelmed by emotion and had to look away.

Pierre's stubby antlers had been a fascination of hers since she'd first met them, so it was only natural that her attention fell there. At this distance, it was easy to see the marks that showed how they had been ground down to fit into a helmet. When she noticed the marks, she felt a twinge of sadness that only served to heighten her feeling of excitement, which suddenly made her feel even more overwhelmed than before. Trying to distract herself again, she looked at their long ears. Before she realized what she was doing, her free hand was up by their face, gently touching the ear that she was now studying so closely.

Up until this moment, Kari's features remained entirely stoic. Her unemotional demeanour made her seem like she merely observed the world around her with a cold dispassion. She was like a zoologist watching the behaviour of animals from a blind, deliberately trying to remain detached from what was happening in order to prevent changing the behaviour she was here to observe. But when Kari realized she was actively petting Pierre's ear, her pale skin erupted in crimson and she quickly turned and grabbed her drink.

"Pierre, I don't know what I want to do," she said before she lifted her glass and closed her eyes, upending its contents into her mouth and swallowing as quickly as she was able. When she was finished, she looked into the empty glass and realized she was running out of things she could use to distract herself. The movement of her tail sped up until it was whipping from side to side with enough force that it whistled as it cut through the air. Kari turned to look at Pierre again, still blushing deeply. "I would like to put my lips against yours and close my eyes. May I do so?"

Nikicon and Lenna would also raise their mugs in the toast as they would smile and then Lenna would nod looking over toward Cheol and nodding some " Yes, yes, I am glad also". Then nods some as Lenna would look over toward Nikicon and said " As for the meeting I think it was more so Nikicon that lead to our meeting Cheol, As she was the one that talked me into doing that mission. If she had not begged me to go and she had a way to get the needed supplies for the rescue mission. "

Nikicon would smile some as she would say " yep, yep, I heard a lot of traffic about a group that needed some help so I talked to Lenna and then got ahold of some contacts to make it happen." Nikicon was relaxed more so now that they are talking and she moved to take another sip from the mug as she smiled in a weird fashion.

Lenna looks over toward Nikicon and sighs " looks like the drink is affecting her already, She is such a lightweight" Lenna would shake her head some and then looks over toward Cheol and says "Well will be heading back to UXIII so we can find out what the Baroness has in store for our next mission, and so you can meet her. As for the latest rescue that was Nikicon's doing as she had the connections to make that happen."

Nikicon smiles some and then teases back to Lenna "you would be a lightweight also if you never drank a lot before... " She smiles some as the drink was starting to affect her more and more as she would look around and then heard another move closer to the table she glances around spotting another moving toward the group. And then watches as they sit down and greet Arwin and Gemetzel then looks up toward them. then giggles softly at the little dance that she did after drinking her drink.

The Tokyo Brewing Company Area
An approximately spherical bundle of fluffy white winter jackets, mittens, scarves, haramaki propelled itself lethargically around the festival area on a pair of relatively tiny legs. The only hint that someone biological was underneath it all was that the legs ended in a pair of clawed feet wearing flip flops that had a tropical flower design with bright colours that clashed terribly with the rest of Kwabba-an's outfit.

As she passed a couple on a bench, she stopped and turned to face them, though her face was still hidden under hoods, hats, scarves, and goggles. Four arms emerged from deep pockets, allowing her mittened hands to begin the process of peeling back the insulating layers that protected her face from the cold. At last, her light red skin with darker red markings that matched her messy hair were visible as she squinted to try and see if she recognized one of the people on the bench. One of her hands darted into one of her pockets and pulled out a pair of glasses that she unfolded and set on the bony ridge where a human would have a nose.



No longer squinting, Kwabba's face lit up. "Sanda!"

The Tokyo Brewing Company Area

Sanda was just about to suggest to Caffran should go and tryout the ice-skating when someone, very much bundled up, suddenly stopped in front of them. The tattooed ranger watched with detached interest as the person began to remove layers of insulation. When the final item was removed, a weird looking pear of shades, it took Sanda a full second to recognize the individual. But once she did she nearly jumped off the bench she was sitting on. "Music Bug!" Sanda yelled with pure delight on her face as the much taller woman wrapped her much small friend in a bear hug, almost lifting her off the ground.

"I am so happy to see you. What are you doing here? Are you still enlisted? What have you been doing?" The questions poured out of Sanda. A woman who was usually so much more composed was shooting her small friend with a barrage of questions that were soon mixed with some words of her native dialect. Sanda soon ran out of steam however and as she took a breath was able to remember where she was and who she was with.

"Kwabba, let me introduce you to Sergeant Caffran Canterbury of the NSMC.... He's my fiancé. We just got engaged." Sanda said, blushing a little bit and smiling ear to ear.

The Tokyo Brewing Company Area
"I am happy to see you too, sister," Kwabba replied as she closed her eyes and returned Sanda's hug, trying not to squeeze too hard. "I am in the reserve. I report back to Fort Victory here in Kyoto for training for one weekend every month. At all other times, I have been engaged in gigs. I have been trying to explore the far corners of the sector, in my own way. Most recently, I have taken a position as Steward aboard a civilian ship called the YCS Bastion of Winter. I do not understand some of the words that you are asking of me, but they sound very nice."

When Sanda introduced her fiancé, Kwabba quieted down a little. She had been doing so well recently, but the sudden introduction of a new person made her want to hide behind her friend. Recognizing that it was a bad habit borne from her social anxiety, she filled her head with music that swelled with pride and she tried to focus on it instead of her almost overwhelming emotions.

"It is nice to meet you, Sergeant Caffran Canterbury of the NSMC," she said, her tone much tenser now than when she was replying to Sanda. Kwabba gave him a deep bow, or at least as deep a bow as she could when she was bundled up in so many layers of clothes. At least her head was exposed enough to give him a respectful nod while she tilted her body forward slightly. "Sanda is very important to me, it would please me if you were to treat her well. What is it that you do in the NSMC?"

"Ancestor's Balls Airwin," Morris replied, shaking as the newcomer-a younger Norian-joined them, "I swear, the way you talk sometimes almost sounds like the grandmaster-only a lot more flowery and havin' less of a stick up yer arse." He'd forgotten how wordy the Norian Emperor could be-but the warning rang true nonetheless. "But you aren't wrong," Taking another sip of his beer as one of the guys had fished a cup and several dice from his coat and had started a game as a combination of steel coins and KS notes were placed as wagers-he'd have to keep an eye on that.

The last thing he needed was for the local police to get involved because someone got into a fight. With a sigh, he continued, tone somber. "The last thing we need is something is an incursion-planetside or otherwise-the veil shouldn't be so easy to tear but-well our hosts-" He gestured around before taking yet another pull-"Are a good example of how easy it is to cross over-or tap energies from them. As for us following our Ancestor's History?" He paused for a moment and realized his beer was empty as he had just drained the last of its contents-setting the now empty bottle, "Well...we'll break that shield when we get to it." There were some things better left unsaid.

"Anyways," His voice took on a lighter tone as the Yeoman looked around, "I don't know about you, but I could use another ale." Now, where was that ale-maid?

The Tokyo Brewing Company Area

Sanda smiled at her short friend. She didn't miss that Kwabba was still super shy but she was impressed at how well she was holding herself together. She had told Caffran about Kwabba before. How the two of them and a journalists, Kozakura, captured a control room at the scrapyard during glimmergold.

Caffran nodded his greetings. "I'm a scout and a close quarters combat specialist with the 309th Rough Riders." He glanced at Sanda and smiled. "Don't worry. I will always treat her very well." Again Sanda actually blushed a little bit as she smiled. It was so good to see Kwabba again. "I'm still on the Resurgence." Sanda said, trying to take the attention off of her. "It's a good ship, but most of the crew is crazy."

Akina and Katsuko​

The word choice made Katsuko think, when it came to deserving happiness it was something she had long foregone, melancholy had befallen her since the first descent from what was the highest seat in the nation. Of course, there were differing opinions on that. "I don't know, I can think of someone who deserves happiness a lot more than I do," she said, of course in reference to Akina. The blue-haired Taisho enjoyed the outing so far this last little event on Yamatai before they would set sail into the unknown.

It appeared that Hanako was still a little consumed in discussion with the Kodian, so Katsuko just stopped short of them and once again came about to face Akina. "That would be fine, and thoughtful love. You can arrange the account for her," she said in anticipation that she also had to set up an account for herself. She took another drink of her hot chocolate and took a quick look around them. Yamatai was truly beautiful in the winter, it was one of the few things you could get on the planet that were not available on Jiyuu. Jiyuu's balmy tropical weather was year around, and nothing but the poles had any snow to speak of, and even that was not very impressive. "It is hard to believe I thought when I retired to become Premier, I thought my career was over. Have you ever considered retirement?" she asked her wife, it was curious to her due to the fact she didn't know if anything away from the Star Army would ever truly be for her again.

Airwin and Company​

Airwin took a generous sip of his beer and gave a slight nod when Lynira sat down beside them. He examined the young woman's features momentarily and then replied to her with a pleasant tone, "I am enjoying the festivities. A bit different than what we are used to, and I think it is great. What about you? How are liking the festival? How are you settling in this new situation?" he asked, his eyes on Lyrnira as they shared the exchange. He didn't know her well, perhaps this would be a good chance to do so.

Gemetzel pushed slightly against Airwin's chest with her back, "I've had to get used to it over the years, but not being a Norian I have to say I look forward to a few trips to less frigid places," she said to Lynira when asked. "I've been alright though, thank you for joining us," she said with a slight dip of her head.

Cheol smiled when Nikkcon spoke, and he observed the exchanges between her and Leena. They seemed rather close. He gave a short wave to Lynira who had joined the table. It was going to be an interesting year ahead, he wondered where it would take the Sobek, "Any idea Cap'n what we will be doing next? Will I get to meet this employer of ours?" she asked the Captain out of curiosity. He was nervous, he didn't know what to talk about with them really, his entire life had been wrapped around just surviving now for several years it was very strange to be in the company of friends again.

"Ha! Morris I will take that as a compliment, though I happen to enjoy Steiner's demeanor muchly. He's proven to be quite the interesting man," Airwin said to the large Iron Company Mercenary that was now in their company as well. "We all bear the marks of our ancestors, sometimes you just have to examine the present as the past doesn't provide the clarity that some people wish for -- especially when you've seen the horrors we have," the Aestaesys said before he took another long sip of his beer.

Sweet Cream and Idols​

"You will be fine little cousin," Kaoru said to Yue. She then gave her order to the booth attendant, "Strawberry and Blueberry, and if you have it - some Unya Springs bubbly please, " she ordered, still very much so obsessed with the sparkling water that Sorin had gotten her hooked on. She watched Tachiko as she wrapped up with the attendant and stepped aside so that Yue could order.

The Tokyo Brewing Company Area - Morris

Over where Morris was having his chat, one of the two bartenders dressed as ravens was helping the rest of his group with refills, going back and forth from the bar. The other was as well, but a gap in anything to do left her eyes scanning the crowd, and naturally he stood out to her. "That won't do." Came over his shoulder as she shifted into position, replacing his empty mug with another cold, huge one that was topped off. "Just raise your hand or something if I don't see you." She instructed him, probably like any other mead hall or alehouse he'd ever been to.

Akina and Katsuko​

"I know who deserves it. That beautiful woman you see in the mirror every morning." Akina shot back at her promptly, playfully squeezing her hand. She blew a little snow falling in front of her in Katsuko's direction but it mostly resulted in just a puff of her breath showing in the evening air. "Perfect. Well I already tagged the rest of the family members in the Clan." She meant the Motoyoshi, Shimizu, and she was arranging for not only Hanako but the other Ketsurui she had worked with before, from the Empress and Mistress Taisho on down. "Someone is on it for Hanako right now. She'll get the message shortly I assume if we don't beat her to it. You know, I am thinking of licensing the ability to extend the SYNC network out to wherever our colonies are, so people settling there can stay connected. It might take longer, so I could always commission a new Yugumo ship for it or get an old survey-type for the job? Just some idle thoughts I had." Their trip was very exciting for her as well.

The question Katsuko asked her next surprised her enough to make her blink but the immediate reply was, "No. Not even for a moment. What would I do? Unless the throne asks me to do something outside I wouldn't retire, even then maybe reserves? I've been serving since I was made, and I try to ignore all the hells-damned things that have happened because of my choice to remain for so long, because it brought me to you, and so much light." The redhead leaned in and planted a real kiss on her wife, feeling compelled to do so. There was time for a smooch while they were stopped, anyway.

Sweet Cream and Idols​

The attendants busily split between taking orders and making them while stealing giddy glances at their guests, and sometimes looking a little gossipy while they tried to make everything perfect for the very recognizable group. It was as cool as they could keep it. As much as having stars in the eyes is keeping things cool.

Snow Cream, but only Two of Them are Idols, One Isn't

Tachiko was perfectly happy to let the other two continue to talk about things she didn't really understand. She was just happy to be with the two of them again. And, with her back in the Combined Expeditionary Fleet, she'd have much more time spent with her sister and mentor, Kaoru. Tachiko knew she'd be leaning on Kaoru's experience as a first officer in the very near future.

"Mmm, ah~ the Chai Masala~ oishiiiiiiiiiyo~" None of those bubbling thoughts came to the surface. Tachiko appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be nothing more than a happy Neko enjoying her snow cream a little too much as her eyes lit up and her cheeks bulged with the width of her satisfied smile.

Sweet Cream and Idols​

Yue nodded to the words Kaoru was saying. It was true, she will be fine, she had her family with her, she was safe. The much shorter Motoyoshi watched as Kaoru and Tachiko gave their orders and made one herself at the mere moment it hit her, potential lyrics to their song. With the need to wait for their orders, Yue grabbed her pad and started rapidly typing into it. A smile forming on her lips as her idea began taking form, and then she was done. “Sorry Kaoru-chan, Tachiko-chan, I didn’t want to risk forgetting later” She said before she took her order when it arrived. “wanna take a look Kaoru-chan?” she asked her

Airwin and Company​

Lynira made note of Morris' shaking when she had sat. Now whether it was discomfort at her presence or something else, she did not know and did not make a big deal out of it other than to smile cheerfully at the mountain of a man. His words brought a humored joy, not that anything about her body language or facial feature would ever betray that. She took another dancing sip of her beverage and looked back to the couple near her.

"I am rather enjoying them as well! They are indeed quite different than what we are used to, but they are so exciting. Things are settling in quite well, trying to immerse myself in all the various cultures. What do you look forward to trying next?" she said her eyes meeting his in pleasant conversation. Lynira dipped her head in response to Gemetzel. Gemetzel's back bump into Airwin did not go amiss, but also did not elicit any kind of reaction from the aqua haired norian. "Of course, do you have any places in mind for the trips?" she asked of the Aest's companion.

Off to the side she noticed Cheol's wave, her ears twitched as she returned the wave with a friendly smile. While he looked rather fetching, he already had companions and had not indicated or requested her to come closer. Therefore she remained where she sat and took another sip, ears wiggled slightly with delight.

The Tokyo Brewing Company Area
"Crazy?" Kwabba-an inquired, grateful that the focus had been turned elsewhere. She looked at Sanda and with her new glasses, she was able to appreciate the details of her friend's face for the first time. The lightning tattoo, which she had seen previously as a simple splash of blue, actually had clear lines now. It almost seemed to glow, but also to be slowly diminishing along with the blush in her cheeks.

"That is too bad," she continued, trying not to rudely stare at Sanda's face. "Everyone seemed sane while I served with you. Were they adept at hiding it until recently? Or was there an influx of crazy people? Oh! I have heard that Star Army introduced a Counselor MOS. I assume they could help with crazy crew, yes?"

The Tokyo Brewing Company Area

Sanda laughed. "Definitely the influx. We've got everything from a Nep who acts more like a mercenary than a solder. We had a bi-polar android but he's gone now. We've got a Neko who can't decide on an MOS and we had an absolutely messed up caregiver." Sanda shook her head. "But there are a few good-uns on the ship. Our XO is very professional, I love her. And probably my closest friend on the ship since you left is a Neko Ranger that we rescued on Hanako's world. We've got a new CMO who isn't bad."

Sanda laughed again when Kwabba mentioned a counselor. "Yeah, we've got a counselor... But I doubt she can help. From what little I've seen of her she's just as bad. She acts like she'd rather sleep with the crew than help them solve their problems but I might be a little bias against her because she's very flirty and I'm just not like that. I really should give her a chance and see what she does with some of the more problematic people on the ship."

Yoshiro was out at the festival with his family, so he could enjoy his leave before he made his decision on where he would transfer to. He was thinking about about this when a grumbling stomach warned him about his hunger like an alarm before an enemy attack.

"Should we get something to eat?" Yoshiro's mother said "You sound like you haven't eaten at all, my dear." He went with his family and they all got some food and drink.

Airwin and Company

Lenna and Nikicon would smile as they talked back and forth to themselves, it was mostly small talk about what was needed for the Sobek. Hearing the question again Lenna blinks and then turns to look toward Cheol as she says "Well I do plan to go back to Sood Zadra on UXIII and get back with the Baroness to see if she has anything for us to do, as with having her meet the new navigator Cheol." Lenna and Nikicon did seem really close as they have been living together for a while and have been through a lot together while on the Sobek.

Lenna takes note of how tense Cheol looked and then leans in and asked " why are you so tense looking? how long here you guys in transition to here?" Lenna was curious as to how long the Norian's were traveling from their place of birth, there was little information that she was able to get on their home.

Nikicon smiles some and takes another drink from her mug and then blinks looking over at Lynira and then as she does her little drink dance once more and then starts to giggle once more. The alcohol in the drinks that she had was really affecting her now.

Winter-Nights Lights Pavilion​

Vec followed. The counselor seemed to be using her extensive cybernetic enhancements to track down the stall. Briefly, Vec wondered if he should look into a bit of chrome. The idle thought came from time to time, but the human pushed it aside.

Finally, they reached the stall. Apparently, wassail was some sort of hot spiced apple drink. The elf-eared Neko behind the bar was serving drinks with or without brandy. Knowing his audience, and his own limits for socializing without liquid assistance, he ordered a pair with brandy.

“Kanpai,” he said after passing Thia her cup. He inhaled the sweet and prickly aroma as he sipped the drink. Warm, sweet, apple flavor washed across his tongue. Hints of citrus and ginger kept the sweetness from becoming overwhelming. A perfectly balanced blend of spices greeted his palate. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to the front, but did he taste cardamom and a slight complex sweetness? Star anise? The choice and quantity of brandy paired perfectly, neither lost in nor overpowering the rest of the drink, instead adding additional layers of sweetness and bitterness. The Doctor gave the nod and frown one does when hearing a sick bassline for the first time. “I think I’ll have to start making this,” he said looking at the amber liquid.

Tokyo Brewing Company Area​

Pierre’s cheek’s burned as they felt Kari reach out to caress their ear. A hand reached up to cup hers and they leaned into the caress. Their heart tried to batter its way out of their slender chest as their mind raced. Several paths unfurled before them. They selected one, deciding to deal with the consequences later, and forged ahead. They floated up from their stool to look down at her. With a light touch to Kari's chin, they tilted her head back for a gentle kiss.

Kwabba-an at the Tokyo Brewing Company Area @Cowboy
Listening carefully, the ant-woman nodded along as Sanda spoke. Soon enough, she was visibly relaxed again as she had something other than herself or Sanda's fiancé on which to focus.

"That is very unfortunate," Kwabba-an began, pausing as she organized her thoughts. If she had lips, they would have been pursed as she took on a dour expression. "I think the issues of the «bad-uns» would not be solved by an increase of sex, so that counselor seems like she would be very ineffective. I had higher hopes for mental health professionals, now that Star Army has shown that it considers such health a priority."

As soon as she finished, her face lit up. Milk chocolate brown eyes the size of saucers went from being fully open and staring intently at her friend to barely able to remain open as her lips widened into a warm smile.

"I am so very glad that you have made new friends in my absence," she beamed. "It has been my deepest regret that I left you alone aboard the Resurgence. You deserve someone by your side who will fight with as much conviction as you do, sister."

Thia at the Winter-Nights Lights Pavillion @Locked_0ut
"Cheers," Thia replied before taking a sip of the drink Vec handed her. It tasted sweet, sour, and bitter and she felt the physical heat in addition to the heat of the alcohol. On top of which, she tasted spices some of which she couldn't even identify. But the sensation was impossible to express by breaking it down into its components, because it presented itself as a unified whole that, although it evolved throughout to emphasize different elements, had nuanced interactions that were lost when isolated into parts. It was like a symphony playing a chord. Though it could be expressed as a set of notes on a scale, the chord had a distinct feeling that the notes lost when played one by one.

Thia had lived her life in a series of artificial spaces — megacities densely subdivided into lonely spaces barely big enough for their occupants, space stations that were much the same but enclosed into a single larger subdivision separating harsh vacuum from recycled air on orbit high above some place more organic, and most recently space ships that were essentially small stations with large engines that shuttled them from one orbit to the next. Despite this, the chord formed by the taste of wassail evoked in her the air sitting on a fur carpet wrapped in a thick blanket, her face warmed by a slowly dying fire in a stone hearth on one wall of a small wooden cabin outside of which fell fluffy tufts of snow ensconcing a pine forest miles from civilization.

"Wow."

Kari at the Tokyo Brewing Company Area
Like a second-order acquaintance she'd heard described and perhaps spotted across a crowded room, Kari was unfamiliar with fear. Injury, death, loneliness, obsolescence and other such things were simply facts of the life she had been given by the Empress, none of which she questioned nor resented. But when Pierre floated up in front of her and tilted her head back, she felt her body erupting with emotions that she could hardly even quantify, and the last intrusive thought she had that evening was: this must be what existential fear feels like.

Then she closed her eyes and felt her lips press against Pierre's. It was only after she regained the full use of her digital brain that she was able to recognize how warm and soft Pierre's lips were against her own, and how they tasted vaguely, and pleasantly, of the sharp hops and sweet malt that they had both been drinking. In the moment, however, her reaction was pure emotion. In her mind, it was the thrill of an impending battle that would be hard fought and whose outcomes was far from certain. But at the same time it was the slowly dawning realization that her side had won the day and the enemy was retreating. And somehow, impossibly, it was also the triumph of returning home victorious and the anticipation of what would come next.

Outwardly as stoic as always, Kari reacted by freezing in place and gently exhaling through her nose with the softest moan, almost a gentle purr in her throat. Her tail almost seemed to float upwards until pointed almost straight up, before it curved at the tip like a question mark, but only for a moment before it straightened again.