[Ion's probably still upset, isn't he? Anise could tell by the tone of his voice. But he's trying to make conversation, so she decides not to bring Arietta up if he doesn't.]
It's nice, but... [She shakes one long sleeve at him.] What's with these outfits?
I'm not entirely sure. That man who works for the malnosso, CJ, called this area of the village the "Shogunate". I haven't been able to recognize much of anything around the village so far, so I'm sure it's all part of something from a world much different than Auldrant.
[He sneaks a glance back at Anise, eyes looking her up and down quickly, before he looks away again.] ...it suits you.
[That makes her cheeks heat up a little.] Th-thanks! Yours looks good on you too.
[As much as she liked dresses, Anise hadn't liked her outfit that much since it felt a little restrictive. But Ion's praise suddenly makes her regard it a little better.]
Actually, I think that's the point. This one is different from the others... there's supposed to be a scavenger hunt going on in each area. And if we find everything they asked us to, it's worth mission points.
As for why, they mentioned something about trying to encourage the villagers to be less... violent.
[Anise, bby, he loves you. So please don't take it the wrong way that he just so happens to glance back at her following that brief pause.]
[A nod.] You should be able to find information about what they're looking for in the journal. Admittedly, I haven't been paying it much attention myself... I'm just relieved this month's experiment is so tame compared to the usual fare.
[...] Though I'd avoid staying in the west part of the village for too long.
The entire area is cold and snowy, and when I walked through it, my clothes became rather unsuitable for the weather, no matter what I tried to bring with me... I'm not sure if that would be the same case for everyone, but it would be best to be careful regardless.
[For the record, it kept dressing him up as an ill-equipped caveman. Being Ion is suffering.]
Huh? They wouldn't let you put on the clothes you brought with you?
[Awww, she had been looking forward to visiting a snowy area too! Snow is fun to play with in small doses, although she doesn't really like the idea of having snow all around the year like Keterburg does.]
No. It seems everything brought into the different areas changes to suit the theme of that area. That's why we're both dressed like this while we're here.
[And also why there are more people around dressed similarly to set the theme. Though they don't all appear to be villagers. There's even a small group of samurai carrying long swords sitting around nearby!]
[Actually, it kind of seems like they're staring...]
[Well then! He seems to have taken her acceptance of the flowers as a good sign, because he's now offering her his arm and gesturing towards one of the nearby fancy gardens on the side of a lavish looking building.]
Shall the fair maiden accompany me a walk through my estate?
[Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Ion is all frowns. Though whether that's because he legitimately doesn't trust this guy or is just being hit with stabs of jealousy is anyone's guess.]
no subject
It's nice, but... [She shakes one long sleeve at him.] What's with these outfits?
no subject
[He sneaks a glance back at Anise, eyes looking her up and down quickly, before he looks away again.] ...it suits you.
no subject
[As much as she liked dresses, Anise hadn't liked her outfit that much since it felt a little restrictive. But Ion's praise suddenly makes her regard it a little better.]
This is pretty tame for an experiment, isn't it?
no subject
As for why, they mentioned something about trying to encourage the villagers to be less... violent.
[Anise, bby, he loves you. So please don't take it the wrong way that he just so happens to glance back at her following that brief pause.]
no subject
Oooo, scavenger hunt? With a reward?
[...Hey! But well, she doesn't want to aggravate uneasy waters with a joke that has the potential to go wrong, so she doesn't comment.]
no subject
[...] Though I'd avoid staying in the west part of the village for too long.
no subject
no subject
[For the record, it kept dressing him up as an ill-equipped caveman. Being Ion is suffering.]
no subject
[Awww, she had been looking forward to visiting a snowy area too! Snow is fun to play with in small doses, although she doesn't really like the idea of having snow all around the year like Keterburg does.]
no subject
[And also why there are more people around dressed similarly to set the theme. Though they don't all appear to be villagers. There's even a small group of samurai carrying long swords sitting around nearby!]
[Actually, it kind of seems like they're staring...]
no subject
Hey! What are you staring at!
no subject
[It's actually Anise. And it kind of sounds like they're arguing over who gets to court her. :'D]
[The apparent leader seems to win the right and comes over, bowing before holding out a small branch with cherry blossoms blooming on it, d'awwww~]
[...though his other hand still hasn't left the hilt of his sword, hidden just beneath the folds of his robe.]
no subject
[She strikes a cute pose and takes the branch, but gets ready to fight in case this is a ploy anyway.]
Awww, thank you! ♥
no subject
Shall the fair maiden accompany me a walk through my estate?
[Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Ion is all frowns. Though whether that's because he legitimately doesn't trust this guy or is just being hit with stabs of jealousy is anyone's guess.]
no subject
[Still, she doesn't want to leave Ion alone, so even as she takes the samurai's arm she waves for Ion to come along with them.]
I would love to!