Be aware of those around you.
♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎
Chilchuck tapped his foot on the ground, looking pretty much irritated for some reason. His eyebrow were furrowed and his lips formed the usual frown a middle age man would make as he waited for his children to get ready for school and they would already be late. He gritted his teeth, closing his eyes before whipping his head toward the covered cave behind him "Hey! Aren't you done yet!?" He shouted to the people behind the curtain.
"Just wait a little longer. . ." Called a feminine voice on the other end "Okay, we will do this here, and. . .there!" Pushing the curtain away Marcille made her exit, looking at Chilchuck apologetic "Sorry about that! I know we kept you waiting!" Then with a smile she took a step back letting you and Izutsumi walk out "Tadaaaa!" The blond elf smiled, showing your and the cat-girl's new winter outfits off.
You wore way heavier clothes that Marcille was able to find in the old backpacks, even if she needed to makes some small adjustments. "These are Namari's clothes" she said pointing to Izutsumi "but they are a perfect fit! Although it did take some time to get down to the right size" the cat girl fidgeted with her scarf, a trouble expression on her face "It's hard to move in these"
"And since ____'s were all ruined behold repair I took some of Shuro clothes and sew them in this cute outfit right here" she beamed placing her hands on your shoulders as you adjusted your beloved cloak and did a small pirouette. Laios clapped his hands at the small fashion show while Chilchuck frown deepened together with the little respect he still held onto his party.
"Well my body is completely chilled now"
"I said sorry!"
"Alright then, we are off" Laios said, however before you could take another step what looked like a caramelized mandrake appeared in front of your face, taking you by surprise "Wait" Senshi called out the rest of the party, handling to them a monster treat "I simmered these mandrakes in sweet sauce. I thought it would be something nice and portable to eat" At the sight of the unusual sweet Marcille's expression dropped and she hesitantly took the food from Senshi's hand.
"Uwaah. . ."
You observed the mandrake in your hands before biting into it. It's strangely sweet but at the same time a little sour, it's not that bad, it almost remind you off lemons with sugar. A lot of sugar. Izutsumi threw you a quick glance, scrunching her nose at the fact that you were really eating these things. How could someone eat monsters? Who knows what type of disease they have. "Oi. . ." She called you, tugging your cloak harshly.
Once you turned around she shoved her mandrake into your face, almost poking your eye out with the stick "Here, take it. Since you seem to like them a lot. . ." Confused you took the treat from her hands, looking at it "What's up? Is there something wrong with it?" Izutsumi deadpanned at your words. There is no way anyone can't see how disgusting is to eat monsters. "That is your portion though" Laios joined the conversation too.
"I don't want it"
Not convinced by her words Laios took his mandrake and waved it in front of her face "Why not? It's so tasty!" His attempts to convince the cat girl to eat were invain though because she recoiled at the sight of the monster "I said I don't need it!" She growled, warning her captain to back off. However, Laios being Laios, he didn't give up until she had even just a bite. He was sure that if she just tried one she will immediately like it "Come on, just try a bite!"
"Leave me alone!"
Seeing as the situation was quickly escalating, and knowing a thing or two about cats, you immediately tried to intervine "Hey cap, it's fine if she doe–" before you could finish your sentence what you feared would happen, happened. Izutsumi scratched Laios in the face.
Aaaaaand there we go.
"H-How horrible. . ." Marcille exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand "Why are we cutting each other up when we already got plenty to worry about?" Sighed the half-foot, running an hand down his face. Taking out an handkerchief the blonde elf approached Laios, cleaning the blood that was already dripping down his face "Let her be. She will eat once she gets hungry" the blonde boy though wasn't happy with the situation. He wanted to know why Izutsumi was so firm in not eating the mandrake.
"Why don't you want to eat it?" He asked again, holding the sweet in his hand "Because it's a monster" the black-haired haired girl spat out, her ears flapped down and eyebrows furrowed. At her words Laios frown deepened and his shoulders slumped down "Sure, that's what everyone says, but. . .what's so different between eating an animal and eating this?"
Hearing that made Izutsumi bare her sharp teeth, like she was trying to scare a predator away, and she snarled back "If I eat a monster I'll get some weird disease and become a monster! That's why I don't want to eat it!" And having said that she didn't let anymore room for an argument.
Laios pouted, tilting his head "How easy things would be if you could become a monster simply by eating one" he sighed blissfully. By his side Marcille tilted her head, closing her eyes "Well, that's just an innate disgust about something unclean. Sure, it may not be logical, but most people, myself included, feel that way. Somehow it just make you feel like you are taking something bad into yourself."
You thought about her words, still holding both mandrakes, and tilted your head "I mean. . .you are not wrong. If I think about the mollusk I first ate with you guys. . .they looked extremely disgusting and slimy" you stuck out you tongue in disgust at the memory of the living armors "I would have never ate one of those things even if I didn't have the immortal curse. . .however after Senshi cooked them, their aspect was almost inviting. So I guess that and the smell are really important." You let out a sigh biting into the mandrake "After all, you can always close your eyes and delude yourself that you are eating something else."
Like a delicious lemon or orange. . .this is not a monster, this is an orange. . .yes. . .an orange. . .
"Anyway, how have you dealt with it in the past?" Wondered Marcille, turning her attention toward Izutsumi "What did you do when you were served something you didn't like?" The cat girl narrowed her eyes "Well up until now. . ." She started, thinking back at her days when she worked for Toshiro before shrugging her shoulders ". . .that never happened to me" earning a skeptical look from the elf.
"Come on you two! Let's go"
Following Laios you guys went deeper inside the snowy cave, making your way through snow and ice. Out of nowhere another storm started, forcing your team to seek refuge inside one of the smaller caves on the walls. Looking out, with red cheeks from the cold, Marcille frowned "This blizzard doesn't show any signs of stopping." Taking in consideration her words Laios nodded to himself, standing up on his feet "Let's make camp here then. I'm getting hungry too"
