Stone's Throw

[Charon Tethras]

Who is that?! "Ah, thank you, ma'am." 

[NPCs]

Said stranger chuckles a little. "Ma'am?" she asks with a playful pout. "Do I truly seem so old?"

[Adonis Naodi]

"Andreas, this is Nyessia. I've explained the situation to her. Why don't I lead you to the steam room and get you set up while she finds that conditioner?"

[NPCs]

Nyessia offers her hand along with a smile. "Pleasure to met you, Andreas-youth. I'm pleased to met yet more of my city dwelling brethren."

[Charon Tethras]

He doesn't put her at ease and give her permission to use his call-name, rude boy though he is -- she's clearly important to Adonis and clearly older by a generation than 'Andreas', so he ought to give her permission. "Likewise. Are you from the plains, then?"

[NPCs]

"Indeed!" she replies, not seeming insulted by the minor slight. "I am the apex hunter of my tribe, Wingclaw. We're a migratory tribe, named for our use of Dimorphodons. Child-sized flying reptiles, cousins of dinosaurs. They join us in hunting, guard the tribe and their eggs are an enjoyable staple of us diets." She chuckles. "Forgive me, I am growing far too accustomed to explaining the ways of my tribe. Let's get you cleaned up. I'll be there shortly, Don," she adds, giving the older male a warm smile.

[Charon Tethras]

"I've never seen a di...  Dimorph..."

[NPCs]

Vyessia chuckles, not unkindly. "Dimorphodons. We mostly just call them fangbirds. They have two rows of fangs, one set to gash and deliver a muscle-relaxant venom, the other to shred and tear for eating."

[Charon Tethras]

Charon shudders. "That sounds terrifying."

[NPCs]

"Oh they truly can be," she agrees with a nod. "Thankfully, they're very social animals and are very willing to follow the lead of 'wingless, furry, landwalkers' if it leads to food, grooming and tent space during rain."

[Charon Tethras]

"Yes, well, that's what they say of horses, and horses can still be right nasty if they get into a funk."

[NPCs]

"Well, we've not hand any bites from adults-- unearned ones anyway-- for well over a decade," Nyessia says proudly. "The nestlings bite, of course, before they're trained but they lack venom so it matters little."

[Charon Tethras]

"Venom!?" Charon winces. "you didn't... bring one, did you?"

[NPCs]

"It's nonlethal, on it's own," Nyessia replies brightly. Neatly avoiding answering his actual question, she adds, "anyway, conditioner!" before slipping back down the hall.

[GamesMaster]

Cleaned and conditioned and feeling more relaxed than he's felt in years, Charon dresses up in another nice outfit of Andreas's -- costs more than it paid to keep me for a month -- and goes to meet his grandfather formally. 

Again, he reminds himself. Andreas met the guy. Once. 

"Grandfather," he says as he comes into the room.