Buffy comes in from the village square.

Buffy

The strength in the chestnut eyes that meet your gaze is almost shocking.
A wry determination built over layers of brown hues. These almond gems
are set wide and lined by thick lashes on a light skined face with
slender features. Wild, thin curls of auburn curve about her upper body,
circling tendrils on her cheeks and falling over her shoulders.
 
Her small, but toned form is hidden and accented by the cut of her
barmaid garb. She wears an tawny off the shoulder long sleeved blouse
underneath a faded crimson leather vest, tied with black laces in bodice
form, pushing up her chest where a silver cross charm hangs from a thin
black leather band. Her skirt is a worn out shade of green, marked with
dirt and scratches. Beneath this and the hint of an underskirt of some
kind a pair of leather boots peeks out.
 
This muscular young woman is a captivating sight, but she is also a
simple peasant, which is noticeable to say the least. Her form reveals
the work she's been through all her life, and something in the way she
moves, alludes to the speculation that its' all far from over.

Utena calls herself back from wherever she went mentally, and nods to
Kane, not having noticed him having come in... peers at Canal a moment.
This would apparently be one of those 'don't interfere' things... not
that she doesn't know about that herself. She smiles quietly, excusing
herself from the table, leaving it to the two of them.. then moves away
to let them talk in private. This means she accidentally brushes by Buffy
when she walks in... "Oops. Oh, I'm sorry.."

Buffy wanders into the tavern.. and into Utena. She blinks and steps back
a bit, nodding with a faint smile, "It's okay..no damage done." She
pushes back a brown cloak just a little more from her form.

Utena brushes her hand over her face, glancing at the girl just in
passing, not recognizing her. "... Are you new around here..?" she asks,
to be friendly.

Buffy pulls down the hood of her cape as she nods, auburn tendrils falling
about her face, "Yeah.. I just got here, actually. This is Darra, isn't
it?"

Canal looks at Buffy, then pulls Kane over to the side to a table.

Kane looks at Canal.

Kane is pulled over ^^;

Martina continues sobbing...oh the heartbreak...if it's not at least
saddnening..it's annoying. ;o;

Utena nods. "Afraid so." Something about the tone of the girl's voice...
she recognizes that kind of tone. It's subtle, but not unfamiliar.

Canal sits down at a table, then speaks softly to Kane.

Kane looks at Canal again.  "Doshitano, Canal?" he whispers.

Canal says, "We've got a problem..."

Canal speaks softly to Kane, holding up her wrist, showing him the
bracelet.

Kane asks, "Oh?  What about it?"

Canal says, "Apparently, I found something that doesn't.... 'like' my
bracelet... Or it could be the other way around..."

Buffy glances about with a faint nod.. "Well, know anywhere nearby I could
stay for awhile?" She seems.. not immediately rushed, but there's
something about her that speaks of an urgent need.

Martina sobbing just stops for a moment as she peeks from over her arm at
everyone else...than starts up the waterworks again. ;o; "Aaaaah...! How
will I ever get over this...?!"

Kane arches a brow again.  "And what's that....?"

Martina sobs! ;_;

Kane glances at Martina a moment, then back to Canal.

Canal says, "A ring... Rail was in the magic shop that Lina own looking
over it earlier..."

"Yeah, I do," Utena speaks to Buffy. "Go out of here, and two blocks
north, until you hit the oak grove on the other side of town... then take
a left going east. There's a place set up for travellers and such there.."
She smiles softly to herself as if at some private joke.. "You'd probably
be able to get some rest there."

Utena glances at Martina too, but knows better than to get involved. n.n;

Buffy mmns.. listening intently a moment before nodding, "Great.. rest
would be a help." She blinks a moment before presenting her hand to Utena,
"Sorry.. I'm being rude. The name's Buffy.. thanks for your help. Not
everyone's this friendly around here."

Utena takes the girl's hand with a strong grip, and a wry little smile. "I
know exactly what it feels like. Believe me. I'm Utena=.. it's nice to
meet you."

Kane asks, "Hmmm, Raile?"

Canal nods.

Utena says, "I had a real hard time making friends when I first got here a
while back. It just takes time..."

Buffy's grip is equally as strong.. a firm, complimenting first
impression, "Well.. unforunately that may not be something I have right
now. Friends aren't important to me at the moment.. but kindness is never
unappreciated."

Kane asks, "When'd this happen?"

Canal says, "Yesterday..."

Canal says, "Then today, I had an encounter with the ring as well."

Martina sobs....and sobs....getting quite loud... ;.;

Canal flinches, glancing over at Martina.

Luna comes in from the village square.

Utena hmms. Definitely knows this archetype. Definitely. She's -been- this
archetype, and her curiosity is piqued. "Spoken like someone who's used to
trouble." She glances at Martina again... then back to Buffy. "For what
it's worth, sooner or later, you'll want someone to cover your back. It
makes all the difference.."

Martina blinks and pouts...looking up and slaming her fist on the table,
"Dammit! Aren't you all a bunch of heartless bastards?!" >=\ "Here I
am...crying my heart out....having to suffer the worst heartbreak of my
life and NO ONE cares!"

Martina's lower lip quivers... snuffle.

Utena sighs faintly.

Kane blinks and looks at Martina again.  He looks back at Canal.

Canal says, "I don't see how it was much of a heartbreak..." She looks
back at Martina. "I mean... You were all over me when he told you I was a
guy... You were all over Rezo that one time... Lesse... Who else was
there..."

Martina 9.9

Martina says, "That is -not- the point..." 9.9

Utena erks softly, "... Rezo?" She looks at Canal worriedly. "Rezo's
around?"

Luna looks at the wall. . o O ( It's a magic circle... )

Canal eh?

Luna . o O ( If they leave that here the Sorcerer Hunters or worse will
find it. )

Buffy's smile waivers as she mutters, "I don't think I want that place
filled for awhile.. my back'll have to be wide open for now."

Kane sighs

Canal looks at Utena.

Martina SIGHS and looks down again...pouting.

Canal says, "Lina-tachi encountered a man named Rezo not too long ago when
they were all in Sairaag..."

Utena brushes her hand over her eyes before shaking her head wearily at
Canal. "Never mind, we told each other not to get involved in each other's
business." She looks back to Buffy and comments softly, "That's the
quickest way to guarantee that you get a knife shoved in it, Buffy."

Kane drums his fingers on the table, glancing around the inn.

Canal looks back at Kane.

Canal asks, "Where were we...?"

Buffy smirks faintly, "I doubt what gets shoved at me will be in my back..
but, thanks for your concern, Utena. It's rather nice to talk to someone
again at the very least."

Martina lets out a mornful sob.... *sniff*

Kane asks, "Um... about the ring encounter earlier...?"

Utena nods, grinning a little. "You haven't been able to for a while, have
you..?"

Buffy shakes her head, simple removing her cloak now and throwing it over
her arm, "Nah.. been traveling the past few weeks.. if not longer. Time's
gotten away from me these days."

Canal says, "Yeah... But well... Apparently, the bracelet reacted when it
was brought too close to the ring..."

Kane tilts his head to the side, leaning it against a hand.  
"Reacted....how?"

Utena moves back over to the bar and climbs back into a stool, gesturing
for the other girl to join her. "From Matherion..? It's about a two day
walk... or from somewhere else?"

Martina pouts more...and tightens her lips into a displeased frown =\

Buffy takes the seat gratefully and lays her cape over her lap, "No.. I'm
from a neighboring kingdom. Besides, it actually only takes a week or so
to get here from there.. but I've been doing some 'tactical movement'.. as
well as getting a little lost." She grins and leans against the bar.

Martina props her elbow on the table....covering her eyes with her hand as
she tries a different approach, "Oh...I'm going to die a lonely old
maid..." *Sob*

Utena laughs. "Amen." She notices the cross around the girl's neck and
erps quickly. "Uhm, sorry... reflex..."

Buffy blinks.. raising an eyebrow from her necklace to you, "I beg your
pardon..?"

Utena shakes her head quickly. "... uhm, never mind." She looks away. "I
just thought, since you're wearing that cross, I might have offended."

Luna glances at Buffy's cross.

Buffy laughs.. "Not at all. It's more.. of a protection device. I feel
safer with it on.. reminds me someone's still gotta be watching over me."

Luna asks, "Protection device?"

Buffy glances to Luna.. and nods slightly, "You know.. like a baby has a
blanket? Something that comforts you? Didn't think it was anything new.."

"Someone's always watching over us," Utena smiles calmly, but nods. "Look,
I can guess that you've had a pretty rough life so far.. just in the way
you talk, I can see it. I've been there. But there's something about
letting your guard down, sometimes, too. It's not always fighting."

Luna asks, "Oh...  was that something belonging to one of your parents?"

Martina umms and her sobbing stops as she begins drumming her fingers on
the table.... (Gesh....)  9.9

Buffy nods faintly, "Yeah.. well, that goes against some things I've been
taught.. but there was a time I believed that." She shrugs and grins,
"Don't worry about it, though.. maybe I can be that person again someday."
She blinks and glances towards Luna again, "Well.. sort of.. it belonged
to a guardian of sorts, though."

Martina stands and fehs....walking over to the door to leave.  9.9

Luna nods.

Luna says, "Oh...  I'm Luna..."

Buffy ahhs.. and smiles, "Nice to meet you.. name's Buffy."

Utena sighs faintly and shakes her head at Buffy, a sad smile. "You sound
like me before I died..." the words slip out somewhat carelessly.

Buffy blinks... and suddenly tenses, "..died?"

Luna asks, "Before what?"

Utena erps softly, having not been paying attention to her words. She
shakes her head, pink wavelets bobbing. ".. Never mind. It's nothing.."

Luna says, "Dying is a very big thing."

Buffy says, "Death is something.."

Martina leaves the tavern and heads out into the village square.

Martina has left.

Utena waves her hands quickly, a nervous sort of smile. "... I wasn't
thinking. I meant something else."

Buffy seems to be pressing this subject for some reason.. "What did you
mean, then?"

Utena sighs. "It's... more of a long story than I really feel like
explaining. I just meant that I used to feel that way too, before I became
a different person. My old self died. It's not physical dying, it's..."
She taps her forehead. "Dying in here."

Luna says, "I never heard of anyone talking like that before."

Utena shrugs toward Luna.

Buffy settles a little now.. and nods, not completely understanding of
course.. but accepting that explanation, "Well.. who I am now is because
of a transformation I had to take part in.. and I know there may be more.
But for now, this is who I need to be."

Utena mms, quietly. "You don't -have- to be anything. But it's all in what
you believe." She smiles some. "Still, I'd like to hear your story
sometime... "

Buffy grins.. and nods.. watching you a moment.. before honestly replying,
"I'd like to tell it sometime."

Utena smiles back. "This isn't the place for it. But... yeah."

Buffy looks up to her surroundings again and smirks, "No, I agree..
dispite its' charm."

Luna says, "A lot of people have stories."

Utena says, "More to the point, too many people around. The one thing that
you can't run out of, and shouldn't ever be too careful about safeguarding
around here... secrets."

Luna says, "Sometimes I preserve them."

Buffy nods in agreement, "I was planning on being less straight forward
about my distrust.. but.. you've put it well enough."

Utena nods. "Like I said, I've been there."

Luna says, "I'm sort of a bard, you see..."

Buffy ahs and nods to Luna.. before ordering a drink and offering to get
Utena something?

Utena blinks. "Oh... " She smiles. "Won't say no. Just an ale would be
fine, please.Thanks a lot."

Luna walks away, to the outhouse.

Buffy grins and nods.. ordering two ales. When they arrive she takes a
long swig.. thankful for the refreshment.

Utena drinks from hers as well, making a slight face to herself. She's
used to drinking them, of course, clean water's rare to come by. But..
after one's had a strawberry margerita this just doesn't quite cut it.
n.n;

Utena says, "Anyway, the sanctuary's a good and safe place. I think it's
right what you need. They'll help you with whatever you need."

Buffy seems quite used to it.. almost moreso than one would think.. but
her outfit befits a barmaid, "I'll head that way after this drink, then, I
suppose.. find shelter for the night.. who knows how much longer."

Luna returns from the outhouse.

Utena says, "Do you want me to show you the way? I don't have anything
else to do right now, and it's getting a little late."

Buffy throws back the last bit of ale and sets the mug down, placing the
payment for both drinks on the bar.

Buffy says, "Oh, would you? I'm still trying to figure out my way around..
it would be helpful if you could."

Utena slips off her stool and nods. "Not a problem." She smiles to you and
waits for you to be ready to go..

Buffy stands and sets her cloak around her shoulders once more.. keeping
the hood pushed back.

Buffy takes your hand firmly.

Utena hasn't a cloak, but smiles, and gestures to the door. "Here we go."

You head out into the village square.

Utena comments beside herself to you, "It's a quiet town for the most
part. But a little paranoid. So.. you don't want to talk about magic too
openly, unless you're around people you really know and trust... it's sort
of an uncomfortable thing for a lot of people. We've had a couple of
inquisitions poking around this area."

Buffy frowns and nods, "Yeah.. we had trouble with that where I come from,
too.. quite a messy situation."

Seiji says, "....."

Utena says, "It's always a problem when the Church sticks their nose into
a really complicated situation.."

Seiji says, "And innocent people suffer for what happens."

Utena blinks. "Oh, Seiji!" She smiles. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you. I was
just showing Buffy toward the Sanctuary."

Seiji says, "A new guest, Utena-san? I see."

Buffy nods in agreement.. whatever belief she holds in her cross charm
about her neck is not apparently in the Church specifically.. She blinks..
and nods in greeting to Seiji.

Utena says, "Something like that." Utena smiles, and introduces the man to
the woman. "This is Buffy... and this gentleman is Seiji. He's a nice guy.
But he's not my friend yet." She giggles, as if at some internal joke.
"Anyway... onward. You have to go through this alley, but it's not as bad
as all that.." Pointing north..

Seiji laughs. "Pleased to meet you, Buffy." Seiji . o O ( Someday, Utena.
Someday. )

Buffy says, "Same here, Seiji."

Utena nods her head to Seiji and continues to lead the other girl forward.

You find your way past the village, and come upon a large open area.

Northern Region

The northern region lies just past the Darra Village. From this place, it
can be seen to the not far to the south, where it stands out against the
horizon. Looming mountains lie to the west, while the east, a peaceful
meadow seems to becon.

Utena says, "I'm just dying to ask about you, but it's really none of my
business." She shakes her head a little. "Anyway, from here... you keep
heading north, out of the city... It's a straight line, so it's actually
easier than it seems. Not a lot in this immediate area, it's good and
quiet. Unless you're ambushed, that is." She grumbles.

Buffy chuckles slightly at your curiosity.. not completely brushing off
the idea, but not openly encouraging you, "Oh.. have you been ambushed?"

Utena says, "Lots."

Utena says, "Mostly by really goddamn annoying things called Mazoku.
You'll probably find out about them if you're in this area for any real
long time."

Buffy says, "Mmn.. doesn't sound like a pleasent experience.."

Utena says, "It's not." Utena's eyes become dark, shadows flickering over
her features, before she shakes it off... is there a tiny flash of gold
light at her back..? Like.. a pair of translucent -wings-? You must be
seeing things..

Buffy blinks.. narrowing her eyes slightly.. but brushing her hand over
her face and figuring it to be due to fatigue. "Well, I'm sorry to hear."

Utena says, "We're almost there. It takes a little while.. Ah!" She looks
to the east.

Oak Grove

It's an unusual sight, a wide forest-like expanse of trees in the middle
of the Kaiou Duchy flatlands and farmlands.  But here it is; and a road
runs between two rows of oaks, providing a canopy of leaves, a nice tunnel
running right up to a clearing..

     In that clearing is a large plot of land, occupied by a large garden,
some space for farming, and a two level manorhouse.  The house is built of
wood and stone, quite stately in the solidness of its construction, and
very welcoming to visitor and resident alike; the porch is wide, with a
swinging chair and a few potted plants, completewith rose-colored WELCOME
mat.  The landowner who occupies this grove must truly be rich, to afford
this!  There's even a smaller guest house, off to the side, with a
hand-lettered sign over it reading Sanctuary.

     A small path leads around to the gardens behind the house.  Two
horses, one white and one black, are in a mini-stable, to allow easy
transport back to Darra.  And, of course, there's the front door.  All
around you, the ring of oak trees seem to have magical wards written into
their bark.

Utena says, "And here we are!" Utena says cheerfully as she leads you
through the trees. She ponders a moment. "It's late, so I'm betting the
keepers of the house are asleep.. but we can go into the guest house
anyway as long as we sign the book. They don't mind." She smiles to you.
"I bet you really want to fall into a bed now and just rest, huh..."

Buffy shrugs as she glances around, "I dunno.. I've never felt so awake,
actually. Having someone to talk to helps, I suppose. But I don't want to
keep you from anything, I've imposed on you enough." She pauses.. and
smiles, "This is a lovely area.."

Utena says, "It is, isn't it.." She sighs, looking around with an
expression that almost seems wistful... then smiles to you. "It's not
imposing. But you're tired.. so.."

Ten'jou Sanctuary - Common Room

Akio glances up and .. blinks a moment. Then smiles. "Hello, Utena."

Utena grins to Akio. "Hi. Crashing in here now?.. This is Buffy. Will you
let Himemiya know that she's here for me? I can't stay.."

Buffy blinks.. and glances across Akio with a critical eye.

Akio nods. "Understood." He quirks an eyebrow, examining the girl with a
quiet smile from head to toe, a book still resting open across his lap.
"Welcome to the Ten'jou Sanctuary, miss." 

Utena pats Buffy on the shoulder. "I'm around Darra a lot. If you need to
talk, look me up. Or you can talk to Akio here. He's a good listener,
too." She grins.

Buffy nods.. "Thanks for all your help, Utena."

Utena smiles. "You're welcome. Good luck, miss. I mean it. I know how hard
it is to be a woman in this time..." she gives you a light, leaning hug,
then turns to walk away, waving. "Good night!"

Akio suppresses a chuckle. . o O ( Is that why you did it, Utena? )

Buffy smiles faintly.. accepting the hug gratefully before waving, as
well..

Akio goes back to reading.

Buffy removes her cloak after a moment and inquires, "Does it matter
which room I take..?"

Akio shakes his head. "Not particularly. There's more than enough
space for everyone though.. if you don't want to share your room with
another guest, then I suggest taking the third room down the hall. 

Buffy nods, folding her cloak in her hands, "That may be best..
thanks." She slowly steps off in that direction.

Akio watches you for a moment, curiously, then goes back to reading
his book, and lets you be in peace.