Gun Girl from Another World

Snore

*Remmi*

Lord Mayor Oshu procured a carriage for the trip back to the estate. It was probably the best decision he'd made all day, as I'm sure he is halfway to plastered, too. He may not have been so pleased with the agreement, but he understood the diplomatic importance of putting in the time to take part in the celebrations.

Ayre is down for the count, sleeping against my shoulder with his coat laid over him. Technically, I could heal him with Purge, but he's earned a little nap. It won't be that long before I'm having to rouse him, anyway, then I'll give him a choice to sleep it off or get it magic'd off.

With the guards outside, that just leaves Oshu and myself inside the carriage, and he watches me for a long moment, gathering his thoughts, before he finally speaks.

"It's an impressive feat to drink with an oni and still be standing at the end of the night," he opens. "Even moreso to do so with Ronolo. I wouldn't have expected it of someone as young and lightweight as yourself."

I'm not just on my feet - figuratively, since we're technically sitting at the moment. I'm actually stone cold sober. I grin brightly and wiggle my fingers. "The trick is cheating with magic, if you can keep a diplomatic secret."

It's a joke, of course. If I really wanted to keep it a secret, I certainly wouldn't have been telling him.

His eyes widen in surprise, having clearly been under the impression I'd somehow managed to tank that powerful alcohol. "Magic? But what spell could a combat specialist learn that would help with such a task?"

"None, probably, but as a Hero, I can learn things that I otherwise never would without a great deal of extra effort." I lean forward and tap his forehead playfully. "Purge!"

I'm able to see the clouding of his eyes lift before my own, and it takes him a moment to process what just happened to him. He flusters for a moment before pulling a hand down his face. "For Essence's sake, girl, don't do that without warning someone! I was looking forward to nursing that buzz for the rest of the evening. Now, I have to start over from the beginning!"

I grin at his misfortune, but I don't tell him that I came away with a whole barrel of the oni vintage, myself, safely packed away in my storage. I don't really know what I'm going to do with it, but I can think of a lot of times having it on hand could be advantageous socially. It'll also be a fine disinfectant, should that be something I ever need.

Ronolo had been ecstatic to share when I asked. "Good booze is like a good story," he said. "It's a waste to keep it to yourself!" I mean, oni booze isn't exactly fine liqueur, but it's definitely special in its own heavy-handed way. Much like the oni, themselves, an insight he laughed raucously over when I shared it with him.

He seemed delighted that someone so young was showing such an interest, but I prefer to think that he was just happy that I was interested in oni culture, and not actually hoping I was picking up drinking as a habit.

Not that I have any qualms about drinking. I was old enough before I got zapped here, so I figure that means I'm mature enough to drink responsibly. I was just never a heavy drinker, and I don't have any plans of changing that now.

Actually, a number of my essence crops could be aged into wine and other alcohols. I should make a note to look into that and see how fermentation changes the effects of the foods. I could probably build a fermenter of some sort to accelerate the process. There might even be magic for it. I'd bet Zeiya would know, I should send her a letter.

My mind continues to consider ideas for the crops as I make idle conversation with Lord Oshu until we reach the estate's front gate. I know I'm probably his second least favorite person right now, but I have to admit that he knows how to set that aside for the sake of appearances.

At the gate, we come to a stop and he opens the door's slide window to wave one of the gate guards over. The guard immediately comes and stands at attention, but Oshu acts as if it's just what's expected and pays it no mind.

"Is that nosy City Guard captain still here?" he asks without preamble.

"No, my lord," the guard answers. "She left hours ago, just before dusk."

Dusk was hours ago? I find myself wishing my system window had a digital clock built in, and resolve to buy a timepiece. It'll probably have to be a pocket watch. Something to look into tomorrow. I wonder if I can get one in chrome so it matches my gun, or if I'll have to settle for silver. I hope I don't have to do that, silver's a pain to maintain.

There's a more immediate concern, however. I don't have any intention of spending another night in the estate's guest house after having to break out of it, and then spending the day undercutting the property's master.

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I wait until Lord Oshu dismisses the guard to speak up. "If Captain Anara and Leuke have left, perhaps this is where we should part, too. The whole day has vanished rather quickly for Ayre and myself. It's already going to be a short night for all of us, and we still need to get to an inn."

The idea seems to surprise him, but before it can reach words, it apparently makes sense, and he nods instead of protesting. "Yes, I suppose you would want to switch to an inn. You must have left belongings behind, though, yes? I would be a poor host if I turned you away so late, as well. Perhaps you stay one more night and pack up your things in the morning?"

That makes my newfound Diplomacy skills panic a bit. If I were to accept, he could go, "See? All of that, and she still stays at my estate, I told you that I had her backing. After she helped me solidify an agreement with the oni, too!" It would, at the very least, be akin to an acceptance of him using my name.

"I appreciate the offer," I refuse politely, "but we got everything packed up before we … left earlier today. It would be best if we declined."

His gaze goes to Ayre, still sleeping soundly against my shoulder. "Your teammate doesn't seem up to travel. Are you certain?"

"I'll carry Ayre if necessary," I assure him. "The nearest inn isn't so far." I've already got all of my friend's belongings in my storage so that he wouldn't accidentally forget them, so it's just Ayre, himself, left.

At that, his gaze moves back to me, looking my figure over. "Forgive me, but you don't look the sort accustomed to that level of physical activity."

But I shake my head. "I've got more Strength than it looks. The side-effect of being able to purchase my stats is that the muscles don't build up the appearance one expects. Leuke could probably have lifted the entire carriage."

Okay, that was probably an overestimation of the Swordmaster Hero's abilities, but it gets the point across. I watch Lord Oshu's face as his mind goes back to the memory of Leuke's physical appearance and tries to apply the image of hefting the entire carriage over his head.

"Excuse me, Miss," the coachman speaks, since the window is still open, "I couldn't help but overhear. I have to take the carriage back to the house, anyway. We'll be going right by a nice inn in Midtown. It's not the high-end you'll find here in the Uptown, but if it's alright by you, I don't mind carrying you back that way and dropping you off. No need to walk, that way."

The interruption sours Lord Oshu's expression immediately. "It is not the place of commoners to insert themselves into the conversations of their betters!"

"That's a horrible attitude to have, Lord Oshu," I scold him immediately, changing his expression back to shock at my admonition. "He's going out of his way to be helpful, it's a gentlemanly way to conduct oneself."

"It's servile in the worst way," he argues, but I ignore him.

"I would be honored to accept your offer, sir, thank you," I say over the mayor's grumbling.

"The honor is mine," the coachman assures me, cheerful at my defense of him. A moment later, he ushers the horse into motion again when the guards open the gate to permit us entrance.

I exchange some final courtesies with Lord Mayor Oshu before he departs with a cloud over his head, and I use Ayre's sleeping form as an excuse not to rise to see him off, which he waves off as if it weren't even a concern. Maybe as a Hero, I've still got a lacking understanding of courtesy between different social castes, or maybe he's simply well-trained to not show offense. Likely, it's some combination of both.

Soon, the carriage starts moving again, and I reach over to close the window before sliding open the smaller divider between the driver and us.

"Sorry for the mayor," I apologize. "You didn't deserve to be talked to like that."

But the coachman just laughs at my words. "Miss, I've been called far worse by the wives of drunkards, and for what he's paying for the midnight rate, I'd let him call me a little more!"

"Midnight?" I repeat. "Is it really so late?"

That gets another laugh. "Quite a party you went to, was it?"

"Well, it was the first one I've been to thrown by Oni," I admit, "but I get the impression they set a high bar."

"They do, Miss! They very much do!" His tone grows more wistful. "My cousin married an Oni, and the man throws a barbecue party over anything! He threw one last week because the bakery down the street started stocking his favorite cookie!"

"They're a lively bunch," I agree. "More than my friend could keep up with."

Ayre's retort amounts to little more than an oblivious mumble and half a snore.

"The elf you got in with?" he asks accurately. "Yeah, a little less known for holding their liquor. Glad she stopped before I had to clean out the carriage."

"Ayre's well and truly conked out," I assure him, "pretty sure we're safely past that hazard."

I find myself continuing to chat with the pleasant coachman until we reach the inn he mentioned. I rouse Ayre just enough to get him walking while using me as a support, and we disembark. I insist on paying the coachman extra, even though Lord Oshu already paid the fare. He tries to turn me down, but I insist he's earned it, and honestly, he didn't try to turn me down that hard.

I wave as he takes off again, then usher Ayre inside. The diner portion of the inn is quite closed down for the night, a fact the man stuck at the counter for the night shift is quick to confirm.

"Bar's closed," he calls out as soon as the door's bell rings like some Pavlonian response. He doesn't even look up from the paper he seems to be sketching in.

"That's quite alright," I assure him, causing him to look up suddenly as if he were surprised. "We've already had our fill. We're actually looking for a room."

He takes one glance at Ayre, and a look of understanding fills his eyes. "Right, right. Got a double open, if that's what you need."

I tell him that will be perfect, coins and key exchange hands, and I start the trek of hobble-walking Ayre up the stairs so he can finish sleeping it off.