>>6260927
9 and 5 for the diplomatic effort: failure

The fairy shakes its head, looking genuinely apologetic… Or, at least regretful at losing the wine. TO its credit, it does release its grip, rather than trying to pilfer it from you anyway.

iTangisto zhah ghil, the gyr-fairy explains. “Ugul ssussun lu'ust ssussun ph'vel'drav l'i'dol zhah pahntar, lu'kar'et zhah mih. Udos shlubnaut kyorl.”

It’s talking a bit too fast, and with too complex a vocabulary, for you to properly parse the fey phrases. Say what you will about rocs, but their simple language, spoken in short and blunt statements, is much easier on a novice like yourself. You get the gist, though: no can do, because… Uhh, something about not being able to wait until night falls? The sun is starting to set, you suppose. Maybe these weirdos have a curfew? Make sense, given how attuned their kind—YOUR kind, at least in this regard-are to natural cycles.

“ZZ?” Carazzi whispers.

“Let’s do it,” you sigh. “Go big or go home.”

“I’d, like, rather do both,” CZ says with a strained laugh.

(You, too…)

Upon your agreement, the fairies whoop and cry out, and launch themselves skyward. For a second, you strain to understand what’s happened. Have they genuinely flown away, as birds of prey? Or is it a trick of the shirin, as they travel by foot? It’s only when CZ taps the Patmo-Shokan bauble upon her belt—the so-called ‘float-SAM’—that you understand they have literally taken wing, using their feather ‘cloaks’ to soar. CZ reaches out to you, and you take her hand in yours. Your shadow weaves and wobble gracelessly after them, towards the setting sun and the high mountains, while YOU ironically follow in HER wake.

“Couldn’t’ve used this thing before?” you can’t help but question.

“I ain’t super good with it,” CZ admits, which seems true enough. “An’, like… I dunno’ how long it lasts between recharges?”

Suddenly, you very much wish to be back on the ground.

…