He stopped when Kenji and Merisa stopped, though he hadn't been looking at them. His eyes were on Yuzo and a smile on his lips as he replied to the dragon. "If I have to, I could work. Bartending in a tavern or something." Those shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. "But I already have some money..so there's no need for that, really." Then his light blue eyes were turning toward Kenji and Merisa.

His smile was kind, amused, but still kind. He would let Yuzo explain about work. "Buying is basically trading..but you have to use these.." He had pulled a small leather purse thingy from being tied on the back of his belt, he pulled out two silver coins and a gold coin he didn't have any copper ones, so neglected to mention them yet. "Silver and gold..they're called coins. Gold ones are worth more and usually you can get better quality items or a more variety of items if you pay..or..trade the gold coin." He paused for a moment, "The worth of the item you want is referred to as a price. The price is how many gold or silver coins the seller of the item wants..Sometimes they'll want a few gold coins and a silver one or two." He replaced the coins and tied the little bag, reaching behind him and tieing it to the back of his belt. If he turned around, however, it would look as if nothing was there. A simple spell. It kept thieves from getting his money.

"Also, there is another coin. A copper one, but I can't show you it because I don't have any, the copper ones are worth less than the silver ones." He scratched the back of his head, thinking. "Ah..the coins, as a whole are called money. You have to be careful though, some people will try to steal your money..or anything of value that you might have. It's best to keep your valuables hidden a bit." His eyes had gone a bit distant when he mentioned thieves and he shook his head slowly, thinking of a person he had met sometime ago. "Anyway..perhaps you should just let me take care of anything that involves money and such..alright?"

Kenji shakes his head, clearly confused about the entire concept. "I don't get it at all. What is the purpose of the metal pieces, anyway? Why not trade for what you need? Food for clothes, clothes for help, help for kindness, kindness for friendship. What a cold system to use metal in favor for more personalized methods of getting something for something else." He looks to the sky, somewhat saddened by what he'd heard about the monetary system. "And such a small worthless metal can be used to acquire a shirt that would keep the sun from my back as we walk?"

"I understand it, Kenji. It's not much different than trading three apples for a turnip. The turnip would be like his gold metal, the apples would be like his silver metals, and grapes might be what his copper are like. You must remember trading a number of picked grapes for an apple just so you can get the thread for your mother. I did that a couple of weeks ago." Merisa's tail sways back and forth as she made her analogy to their lives back home. She was surprised to find that she didn't really miss being at home. This adventure was turning out to be quite fun. "Come on, I want to see what the town looks like!"

Merisa starts hopping off down the road, looking back as she bounces along, inviting them to join her with the large happy smile on her face and merriment in her eyes. "Well, you heard the Kitten." Kenji laughs, actually happy, as he follows Merisa at a jog.

Krinn had frowned a bit at Kenji's statement. "Aa..but that's because the world is a very cold, distant and un personalized place. People are mean, only concerned with what they want and concerned with getting it anyway they can, even if it hurts others. The world isn't all happiness and blue skies. It has it's moments but for the most part, the majority of people you're going to meet cannot be trusted."

Emotions swam in his eyes and then he shook his head, looking from Kenji to Merisa. "Keep a close eye on her when we get into the town. You never can tell what might happen until it happens." He followed Kenji when the boy took off at a jog.

Kenji looks over at Krinn as they jog after Merisa. "I didn't realize the world was so impersonal. We hardly hear tales of the lands outside our own. When I left home, I heard even less about the rest of the world. Most anything we know is likely to be myth for anyone else." While moving, he reaches a hand back and rests it on Korai's tiny tail. "Even dragons had turned into stories of legend in the elf village. Meeting Yuzo and Korai, it's all quite a bit to take in, but finding out that money and coins have taken over in place of trading goods and services for services and goods, it's just so depressing to learn that. Like there is little hope left for the outside world."

Merisa had slowed to hear what was being discussed, and since she seemed to be the one setting the pace, Kenji slowed to a fast walk to match. "I don't know, Kenji. As cold as the monetary system seems, the people holding the money aren't that cold. Krinn makes a really adorable wolf, and a really nice guy. He doesn't seem cold at all, but he has all that shiny metal on his belt. Maybe if the people holding the coins aren't cold, then the system isn't cold either." She reaches up to stroke a finger down the plated armor along Korai's spine. "And as strange as the outside world is, it doesn't seem as scary as the village people make it out to be. It's pretty out here. Lots of flowers and plants that each have their own voices and don't have the same old stories as the green-life at home."

Kenji snags Merisa's arm, hoping to get her to listen to him, without being too rough in the process. "Krinn says that when we get to town, we have to stay together. You can't go running off on your own, Risa. Please promise you won't leave my side?"

"Don't worry, Kenji. I won't make you worry about me." Merisa gives him a warm smile, taking his hand off her arm and holding it in her own hand. "Krinn and Yuzo seem to know what to expect, and I have all three of you to protect me from anything, I won't do anything stupid."

If it will please you, I can ride on Merisa's shoulder when we get there. Just in case she wanders off, I can tell you where she went...

"Not everyone with money is friendly. Just be careful and try not to draw too much attention to yourselves...and....that sword." He frowned slightly, eyeing Merisa up and down for a moment when they had stopped. "If your going to carry a weapon, you must learn to use it. You never know when you might actually need to use it." He looked towards the town, frowning slightly. For the most part, he had ignored Merisa's comment about him being 'adorable' a slight blush had crept onto his cheeks for a few seconds. Other than that, he seemed to not have noticed the comment. He cleared his throat softly. "We should keep going then. Just be careful and alert."

Krinn started walking towards the town. Knowing they would follow behind him.

"I always run away instead. I don't want to hurt anyone with this tool. I was thinking I could just use this thing to dig out the magic stone when I find it." Merisa jogs to catch up with Krinn. "But you can show me how to use it to defend myself? Without hurting anyone though."

Kenji shakes his head sadly. "Its part of what we're taught from birth. Hurting anyone for your own sake is never an excuse. If you can escape without fighting, you should do that instead." His tail wags as he's dragged after Merisa, who still had a grip on his hand. "I've mostly gotten over that by living alone for so long, but Risa was probably getting huge doses of it while the elder showed her the sword."

"I did. They kept saying that I must run if I encounter anyone, and that I shouldn't ever use the sword if I can help it. I haven't even drawn it yet." She sounds almost sad as she says this. Her training consisted of using sticks, not the sword itself. She doesn't even know what it looks like unsheathed.

He was shaking his head. "Never turn your back on a potential enemy and running will usually only provoke most creatures into chasing you. Sometimes you have to fight to live." His eyes had hardened a bit. "Violence is not a good thing, but sometimes...Sometimes it is necessary and no, I cannot teach you to use a sword, but..There are weapon masters in town, I'm sure, I will get one of them to teach you. It's better to learn from someone that is skilled." Krinn was a bit uneasy, these two. They didn't know anything about the outside world and he was afraid that something bad might happen while in town. There was no way he could keep his eyes on them at all times. He was frowning just slightly.

"I don't want to learn how to hurt people, Krinn. Can't I just give Kenji the sword?" Merisa's eyes were watching Krinn's eyes very closely.

Kenji noticed the change in the wolf too. It was like he seemed worried about something. "I can actually use the sword better than Merisa can. I've had to fashion such weapons that resemble the sword before. It wasn't often, but sometimes a feral cat would start hunting the wolf packs."

"You killed the kitties, Kenji?" Merisa's eyes were wide, the pupils within tiny, and a sheer look of horror on her face as she asked that. "What about the people I encountered on my trip so far? Is that why they stopped following me?"

"They were going to hurt you, Merisa. I had to keep you safe." His eyes were down cast as they continued walking behind Krinn. "Losing you is worse than losing those filthy examples of life." His own eyes, though looking to the ground, were hardened, the memories still fresh of the short lived battles to save his Kitten.

His eyes closed for a moment and then reopened, he inhaled deeply. Sighing softly. Merisa was to unprepared for the world. It could break her. He stopped and turned to face them. There was no way to word what he was about to say in a delicate and nice manor so he just said it bluntly. "Perhaps you should go back to your village. You aren't prepared for the real world, horrible, awful things happen and sometimes, just to survive you have to do horrible and awful things. Perhaps you would be better off in your village instead of out here..This world can break you if you aren't prepared to harden yourself. This world is nothing but sorrow and pain, with tiny moments of happiness that pass in the blink of an eye."

His right hand clenched into a fist as he looked at Merisa. Such a nice girl, she didn't deserve to be tumbled into this cold and uncaring world. Especially considering she had no real idea of what to expect.

Merisa wasn't hurt by his words, she was hurt by the fact that he felt that way. It pained her that he saw the world as nothing more than pain and sorrow. It wasn't a choice she made when she let go of Kenji's hand, and he knew that she wasn't moving on her own accord, so he wasn't jealous at what she did next.

"I'm sorry you see the world through such jaded eyes Krinn, but it's not all pain. It's not all sorrow." As she was talking, she was stepping quickly, lightly, toward the cobalt male. Something within her, some deeply buried Elvin instinct that no one has used in years, had surfaced at Krinn's words. She had her arms wrapped around Krinn's shoulders and was giving him a hug in an instant. "There is still beauty in this world, Krinn. There is still happiness. It might look dark, but there is always light that is waiting to shine and chase away the darkness."

Kenji was watching Merisa and waiting to see Krinn's reaction to being hugged by the cat/elf. "She's right, you know. Even if you're right that she isn't prepared for the world, even if we are both not ready for the world. She still has a point. Nothing is lost while you're still alive. There's always a chance for things to change. There's always happiness somewhere, always light, even if you have to look for it." Kenji kicks at the dirt a bit, somewhat uncomfortable about the current topic of how much they didn't know about the outside world. "You've seen more than we have obviously, but if you keep looking at life with dark eyes, all you'll see is darkness."

"I know I'm not as smart as anyone else. Our village is too secluded. There's never any strife, never anyone has to struggle for anything, no fighting, no need for anyone to keep peace. Everyone is completely set in their ways. I imagine if something did happen, the village would relocate, rather than fight back." Merisa continued to hold Krinn as she spoke. "But I can't just go home, Krinn. I need to learn about more than just what's in the village. That's why we changed. We needed to leave home."

"Even if that stone doesn't exist, we'll still look for it. We need to, there's some knowledge we need to learn before we go home. It's why this is happening. It's the only thing that makes sense about our changing." Kenji didn't know where their words were coming from. He didn't have control over his own voice box by this point. Perhaps the mysterious power that had his vocal cords moving would tell them what they were supposed to learn.

He was almost disappointed when the weird power lifted, leaving him standing there watching Merisa hug Krinn while she cried for his pain. She was sobbing out words into his shoulder, words Kenji could just hear enough to understand what she was saying.

"I'm sorry for your pain, Krinn. I'm so sorry."

He had expected her to cry, his words had been mean, in a way, even if he hadn't meant for them to be. What he hadn't expected was what she did. She came towards him and for a moment all he could do was watch. Then her arms were wrapping around him. His body tensed and his eyes closed tightly. She was hugging him. It had caught him off guard and left him uncertain as to what he should do next.

But she was speaking and all he could do was listen to her and to Kenji. They had a point, a very valid point. His arms twitched for a moment, before they rose slowly, going around her smaller frame as he lowered his head to hide his face against her shoulder. "Beauty and happiness are always stolen away. It never lasts." He whispered the words lightly, frowning into her shoulder. He was silent again, listening as they continued to speak to him, it had been a long time since anyone had hugged him. And even longer since someone else had cried for him.

And then those words.

"I'm sorry for your pain, Krinn. I'm so sorry."

He jerked, as if he had been slapped in the face. A distant memory stirred by those words and he pulled away from her. His heart even more full of pain now than moments ago, and her comfort had been making him feel slightly better. He turned his back to her. "..Vega....The pain I endure is worth it, if I can see him again. So do not be sorry for me, do not pity me." Both hands had clenched tightly into fists at his sides and he started towards the town.

"It'll be nightfall soon, we should get a room at the Inn." His voice now sounded strained, tired and full of a myriad of emotions.

While the three spoke, the dragon remained silent. He listened intently as Krinn explained what the current monetary system was. A cold system indeed but Yuzo had seen times when the precious metals have given joy to many a person. He remembered stories from his father about how people used to trade decades ago as Kenji and Merisa have described. There were still trades being done in the present day but not as restricted to goods and services as the elves practiced. In a town he had come upon, they traded people for people. It was an old form of trade for them, passed down from generation to generation. Guards could be traded for servants and sons and daughters for sons and daughters in matrimonial or political aspects. Of course, this form of commerce, as with many, started out fair before turning into a whirlwind of greed. The freemen who willingly went with their masters are now known as slaves. The children who were taken in by their new families have become merely tools for gaining social power. Yuzo hasn't been to that town since then. Mostly because he was chased off for helping slaves escape. But he also didn't want to return to such a destitute place.

When they talked about fighting, he was happy to hear that the two elves have adopted a more peaceful stance than just charging head on. But Merisa's view on the dangers in the world was a little naive. He agreed that maybe the two were not fully prepared for the world but disagreed with Krinn when he suggested they return. It surprised him when the feline and canine elves defended their optimistic outlook with such simplistic eloquence and faithfully kept to their hopes of finding the stone they sought. However, Krinn still stuck to his pained view of the world even as Merisa cried for any hardship he may have faced. What miserable circumstance could have possibly given him such a morose attitude?

Then he heard it. The one name that the cobalt haired man uttered. 'Vega?' Yuzo thought, 'Where have I heard that name before?' His attempt to recall where was soon interrupted by the sight of the town they approached. His thoughts were chased off by the worry that word had gotten to this settlement as well that there was a bounty on his head.

[Sorry for suddenly logging off without posting much last night. My comp crashed :sweat:]

Merisa stood where Krinn left her. He hadn't slapped her, but the jerking maneuver he did to escape her felt like a slap all the same. "I've never pitied anyone." Her voice was barely above a whisper, so the chances of Krinn hearing her were slim at best. She still didn't move until Kenji came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace.

"Some people just don't know compassion, Merisa. They mistake it for pity, even when you can really feel their pain, whether they stopped feeling it long ago, or still feel it fresh. Guys don't like to feel pitied. It's about pride. The wolf packs were all the same way, if you tried to feel their pain to share the burden, they'd get angry and growl. It's hard to learn not to feel someone's pain for them." He was speaking into the top of her head, though he knew he was speaking loudly enough for all to hear. He wanted to make sure that Merisa got the message. "Krinn didn't push you away to be mean. He pushed you away like someone would push away a painful memory. I doubt he wanted to feel the hurt the memory triggered again."

Merisa had turned into Kenji's chest, the tears streaming down her face still. Had he been wearing a shirt, it would have been noticeably wet now, as it was, his pants were picking up the moisture that the sun didn't burn away. "I didn't mean to hurt him more. He's in so much pain, Kenji. Can't we help him somehow? Can't we help him see that the world isn't just about who can hurt the deepest, but that it's about who can leave the best memory without pain attached?"

Kenji shakes his head sadly. "I don't know. He'd have to want to be helped, and it seems like pain has been working for him thus far." He looks up to watch Krinn. While he's watching the other wolf, Korai moves so that he's draped over only one of Kenji's shoulders. He reaches down and touches Merisa with his right foreleg on the top of her head, almost as though he were saying 'it's okay'. "Come, we need to get to town, like Krinn said. We can talk more about this 'pride' thing later, if you want."

Merisa nods slowly, wipes her eyes on her sleeve, and turns to face the town again. She doesn't leave Kenji's side once for the rest of the night. Her upbeat mood was broken, and she stayed mostly quiet, only answering direct questions. In truth, she's brooding about what Kenji told her, about Krinn yelling at her, and about what they both said about how unprepared she was for the world at large.

"My pain..." His head tilted back and he looked at the sky. "Is my own." The words were spoken softly, quietly. "It doesn't need to be shared with anyone else." Shaking his head a bit as he led them into the town, not once looking over his shoulder at them, he knew they followed him and that was good enough for him. They entered the town on the market end, busy and bustling with vendors set up outside of buildings and vendors set up inside buildings. There were taverns and inns and perhaps even some whore houses.

Krinn shivered. It was a busy day, his pace had slowed so that he was beside Kenji. "Let's get you a shirt, then." His voice still sounded strained and tired, but he gently took Kenji by the elbow to steer him towards the proper vendor. Plastering a smile on his lips as they approached the table. "Good Merchant..My friend is in need of a shirt. Something tight but loose and cool all the same." Already Krinn reached behind him for that hidden money purse.

When they entered the town, Yuzo busied himself with looking around for any signs of wanted posters or the familiar dark red uniforms of the people who were searching for him. To his relief he found neither and was able to move about with ease. While Krinn was purchasing a shirt at one stall, the dragon watched the crowds move about from stall to stall. It was already dark out but the lamps that were lit ensured customers could see the merchandise that vendors were eager to sell. He walked over to one booth a few feet away from the group.

"Does that interest you young man?" asked the elderly vendor as he eyed the prince's horns with interest.

"Yes. It has a pretty sound. My sister used to play this for us back home. How much is it?" Yuzo asked, holding up a light red spiral shell with holes running along the sides.

"That ocarina is the last I have and the sea is quite far from here. It's quite expensive but for you I'd settle for 2 gold." the old man replied, stroking his beard.

"All I have is 4 silvers and 2 copper coins." the teen replied bashfully and held out what he had left.

"I can settle for 3 silvers and a copper one." The vendor smiled and took the four coins before handing the young man the instrument. "Thank you for your business sir." he added before bowing his head slightly with his hands together. The customary greeting for Water Dragons.
Yuzo smiled at the knowledgeable human and greeted him the same way. He then walked back to the group and gave the ocarina to saddened tiger elf. "Here. I thought this might cheer you up a little. It's an ocarina. An instrument. You blow from that end and control the sound by covering the holes along the side. In whatever way you leave them open or closed, the notes will change accordingly. Like a flute." he said, pointing to the mouthpiece and the notches along the shell's side.

The man behind the stall's counter looks at Krinn with an odd expression. He could tell instantly his customer wasn't pleased, and an unhappy customer in his stall was not what he wanted to deal with, but he never had much choice when he had market duty. He noticed the makeshift bandages on his customer almost instantly, as well as the swollen eyes of the female in his group. And what a group they were! The female had ears like a tiger and the male beside her had ears of a wolf. These were not normal people that had come to visit his tent.

"Your friends need a better wardrobe all around. For elves to wear such drab clothing, it's quite a depressing sight." Yes, he knew they were elves. Every elf could tell another elf, even if they are just a half-bred merchant's son. He might look human, but when you know how an elf can move, you can easily detect an elf in a crowd of humans. They tended to move more smoothly, as though they had to calculate each move so as not to move too quickly. "I see that he used his shirt to help you out. You must have made quite the impression to befriend elves."

"How...? We don't look like we did." Merisa stammered over her words, and though she didn't leave Kenji's side, she leaned forward slightly, hoping that the merchant had seen other changed elves before. Maybe their condition wasn't as rare as she thought it was.

The merchant couldn't help but disappoint the cat-girl. He wasn't a mind reader, and while he can pick up on emotions, he couldn't really read them or understand them like his mother could. He was only half elf after all. "When a person is born half elf, they tend to pick up on small differences between their parents and other people." He puts both hands over his heart and bows his head in the greeting his mother taught him. As far as he knew, it was the universal greeting amongst elves. "Well, what can I help you with then? Just a shirt for such fine elves can't be what you're looking for. For two gold coins, I'll outfit all three of you. What do you say?"

Korai sits up on Kenji's shoulder, looking at the self-proclaimed half elf merchant. If I understand the monetary system you explained Krinn, this sounds like a good deal. Perhaps he knows someone who can help Merisa with her sword? He was still a young dragon after all, he could be expected to make mistakes when they were trying to avoid trouble. So far, luck was on their side, and no one jumped at the word 'sword'. How long could it last though?

Merisa looks at Yuzo for a few moments, too surprised to respond. He'd bought her something with his few coins. She watched him do it, curious about the money thing. From what Krinn said, having the silver coins wasn't that wonderful of a thing, it was gold that seemed required everywhere. But he spent most of his coins on something that he was giving to her. "But... Yuzo... I don't have anything to trade for it..."



((I think I like this character... Maybe I'll make a profile for him. He seems bored with his life anyway. Besides, throwaway characters are fun things to have handy.))

[Lol :lol: Ok. Is he going to be a main or something like a secondary character in case we get into tight spots? That would be cool if he also traveled with us, then we'd have good clothes or someone who knows a thing or two about good merchandise :)]

"It's alright." he said with a shrug. "A gift for a friend doesn't always require something in return. Besides, I'm pretty sure you and Kenji'll like the sound." He let his emerald eyes wander from Merisa to his other companions. They were indeed an odd group but he was finding it easier to fit in with them than it had been with some of the other people he'd traveled with since he left his lake. Not even the other dragons he'd met were as easy to get along with. But then again, they were all from different families and he was the only aquatic one.

Krinn had frowned slightly. Listening as the merchant spoke. The deal he proclaimed was a good one, indeed and he couldn't help but feel as if the merchant was cheating himself. Those eyes narrowed slightly in thought and he shook his head. "No..Such a deal..is too cheap. The goods you sell here are what promise food on your table. I will give you four gold coins for all of us." He glanced at Yuzo as the boy approached, and then at Korai. "Perhaps.."

His gaze shifted back to the merchant, that purse of money already in his hand and being opened with the other. He pulled out four gold coins and handed them to the merchant, then reached for two more. "Also, could you tell us if there are any Weapons masters in town. Preferably a Sword Master, and..we seek an Inn to take a night's rest, could you show us the way?" He offered the two extra gold coins to the merchant. Payment for the information.

((Eh guys :/ Sorry I've been gone. I didn't die but my comp sure did. My computer has officially crashed. Big time. Not sure if it can be fixed or not but it's at the shop right now. I may end up having to get a new one. This means I'll be on MUCH less than I normally am. I'm going to have to drop this and the rest of my RP's because I just won't be online long or often enough to keep up with them))

Merisa's eyes widen noticeably, and she clutches the instrument to her chest. "Thank you, Yuzo!" She didn't know how to play it, but she would learn. She was curious about how it would sound.

The merchant holds up his hands, refusing more of the coins. "Stop. I won't take more of your money. I can see you are on a quest, and if they were raised like any normal elf, they wouldn't be dressed as they are. I'm going to assume you are the one with the funds." He drops one of the gold pieces back into Krinn's bag. "Three gold coins is the most I shall take to outfit the four of you. Keep your funds. As for an inn, there are no good ones in town that won't cheat you out of every cent you own."

Kenji, who was watching the exchange closely, allowed his eyes to drift around the tent, looking at all the fine clothing on display. None in their village had ever worn such fine materials before. "You're right, we only found out about this money system of yours today. The only thing we could trade for clothes is Merisa's sword."

"Yes, about the sword. There are fine masters here in town, excellent teachers in sword-craft, if you wanted to take time out of your quest to learn. None will travel with you." The merchant, not meaning to be rude, starts to ruffle through the shirts and pants on the racks, pulling out garments that went with the colors of the four questers. Black with royal blue trim for Kenji, black with crimson trim for Merisa, and royal blue for Krinn. He knew better than to assume that the she-elf would request a dress. Most female elves wore pants like men, as they were easier to get around in, and less likely to get caught on something. "My name is Kiyoshi. Please, call me Yoshi for short. What type of clothing would your horned friend like?"


((>.< I must be the only one that remembers the OOC thread...))

][I remember it. Just don't frequent it often.][

Krinn had frowned, but didn't argue when the man replaced one of the gold pieces. Tying the small bag again and replacing it at the back of his belt where it faded from view. He nodded slightly at the man's information about an Inn and sword master. "All Inn's cheat. I know how to deal with them accordingly, and my funds will not run out so easily..as for the sword master, I do not wish for him to travel with us. I seek a specific type. One who teaches defense more than attack. One who's motto is. A sword to protect. I know it's not taught as widely as it used to be, but I will accept no other Master for this girl. She is pure of heart and so her sword master must be able to understand her completely."

His lips twitched upward in a smile at the clothing presented to him. A nod. It would do. Though not his usual style of clothing, it would be fine and a nice welcomed change from the usual, lower quality clothing he wore. He glanced at Yuzo, a bit of mischief glinting in his eyes. "Something fit for a prince."

Yoshi sees the hesitation in the cobalt haired male's eyes. "These clothes may look too fine to wear on a quest, but they really aren't. They are protected by spells that are embedded in the material as they are made. They protect the wearer with the same spells. You won't easily injure yourself while wearing these. They do come in different styles, if that was your concern though." He begins to pull out simpler garments, solid pieces, pieces that tie shut, and pieces that button closed. The solid pieces looked like simple shirts with rounded cord-like collars. The trim was still that of the secondary colors that he'd picked out before.

"That's right, Yuzo is a dragon prince. I had forgotten that." Kenji looks away from the clothing and toward their friend. "He's a water dragon, perhaps he'd like flowing blues?"

Kiyoshi stares at the dragon prince, his eyes slightly widened. "I'm sure my clothing is not fit for a royal family. I fear these are simple garments made by my mother. Elves and humans are my normal customers, I rarely see a dragon in this town. I... I'm sorry, I wouldn't know what to show your friend."

Are dragons so revered that they get special clothing? Korai didn't really see a point to clothes, but then he was just a baby forest dragon. Perhaps when he was older, he'd understand better. What makes one royalty? Does one know he is royalty, or should he do something to obtain it?

"These will be just fine." He smiled when Yoshi went to show him more assortment of garments. When the subject turned to Yuzo he just smiled a bit more. "Don't worry, I'm sure he would be happy with anything you picked for him. He's a kind boy with a gentle spirit." Already he had grabbed the first set of clothing that Yoshi had offered and stepped a bit away from the merchant's table. Eyes dancing this way and that. He felt like he was being watched again.

He looked at Korai. "Some are so revered as to be worshipped as gods in some cultures." He shrugged. "Different people view them differently, though dragons have been around since the beginning of time, or rather..rumors say." He chuckled softly. "Those that are royal are usually born into it or married into the family, I'm sure Yuzo was born into it."

Kenji fingers one of the single piece shirts. The material was soft, but it felt stronger than the shirt he tore up to make bandages for Krinn. "I would like this one, if it's alright." The pants that went with it were of a thicker material, as though they had been made from canvas, but they weren't rough like canvas. "What are these pants made from? I don't recognize the material."

Merisa touches the other pull-over shirt, the one with her colors, but she doesn't pick it up. The tie closed tunic shirt was black and the string was dark red, just like her own colors. On the back of the shirt were marks that seemed to be made by tiger claws. "I think I like this shirt. It certainly looks like it was made for me." She picks up the pants, noticing the stronger material, but not knowing what it was. "It's as thick as two layers of the top's material."

Kiyoshi nods to them as they feel the material of the pants. "Yes, it's a material called 'denim'. It's stronger than normal fabric, but lighter and not as good at keeping air out as canvas is. It's become a popular fabric among adventurers. It can be dyed to many different colors, and it's easy enough to make." He was picking through his wares, trying to find something that might please the dragon. He'd found more shirts and pants like what he'd shown the others, but royal dragons normally didn't dress like mere commoners. "I apologize. I haven't got many fancy clothes. Most of what I have, it's made for adventurers that want safety while out on quests."

He seems to be scared of Yuzo. Merisa was holding the clothes she'd chosen. She couldn't help but look from Yuzo to the merchant, confusion clear on her face. Why would he be scared of Yuzo, though? He's a nice guy, not mean at all.

Kenji's thoughts were running along similar lines, but he was closer to the truth than the tiger-elf beside him. He fears dragons. He hasn't once looked at Korai.

Korai, who was on Kenji's shoulder, seemed to have almost possibly have heard Kenji's thoughts. Who knew with dragons. They were all wise beyond their years, whether they always showed it, or only sometimes showed it. The little green dragon leaps off of Kenji's shoulder and lands on the table without opening his wings to lessen the impact. It seemed like he wanted to get the merchant's attention quickly.

Kiyoshi saw Korai the moment the little dragon leaped from Kenji's shoulder. He knew the dragon rode on the elf, but he was trying his best to ignore that fact. He couldn't ignore the dragon landing in front of him, though. He couldn't help his reaction as he jumped back, trying to find some kind of safety by putting distance between them. He immediately felt like the fool he was when he saw the scared look on the baby dragon's face.

I'm sorry... I just wanted to see the clothing closer... It honestly sounded like Korai was about to cry by the tones of his thoughts.

[Sorry for not being on early enough for these conversations :cry:]

When Krinn and Kenji asked for something nicer for the dragon prince, Yuzo was at a loss for what to say. "No need to make a fuss over me." he tried to tell the merchant when he was looking through his wares for something suitable for the dragon. "I'm fine with most clothes. Anything green?" He looked at the clothes that were suggested for him. It was true that blue was the color associated with water and most Water Dragons did wear it but seeing as Krinn and Kenji already had blue he thought it would be an interesting change to have a different color. "It doesn't have to be fancy or anything." he added with an embarrassed smile.

If his mother knew about one of her sons wearing common clothing, Yuzo would never hear the end of it. She was an overbearing Water Dragon. The one with the highest taste for elite things in all the court. Every time the royal family had a feast, all attendees knew they had to find something classy the queen would approve of. Otherwise they would face a year's worth of shame. While most of his older brothers and sisters were used to their mother's high standards, the middle and younger children have started to disdain official occasions at the palace. It was one of the reasons why Yuzo struggled hard to become a guardian at an early age. He would get to live on his own.

Oblivious to the fact that the merchant seemed scared of him, the green eyed prince listened to Yoshi's explanation of the denim fabrics to Merisa while he looked at all the different fabrics in the tent with interest. The materials used were definitely different from what he normally wore back at the palace and at the lake. At the palace, his clothes were often made of silk and embroidered with pearls, gems, and precious metals. At the lake, he wore far simpler clothes but they were still embroidered with silver or gold. However, he didn't wear fancy clothes on his trip back to the ocean since he knew it would merely attract unwanted attention. Aside the small emeralds on his headband and money for the trip, he tried to carry nothing else worth stealing.

It was only when the startled merchant jumped back to distance himself from the baby Forest Dragon that Yuzo's gaze returned to him.