After thinking it over for a few moments, you decide you're not entirely comfortable entering the home of someone you barely know, even with an invitation. Still, you don't want to turn Elaine down entirely, either… "Thank you, but I don't want to intrude," you finally settle on. Lynx grins sheepishly, while Elaine glances aside to hide her frown. "Do you want to come with us to the shop, at least?"
Elaine sighs, still looking a bit disgruntled, but nods acceptance. "I do need to stop by my place, but it shouldn't take too long. I would be happy to join you after that."
"Alright, that sounds good!" You grin, "We'll meet you there, then!"
Elaine nods, and picking up her luggage again, heads for the doors. "I'll go now, then, so I can get there in time." With a last unreadable glance toward Lynx, she leaves the platform.
You glance around at the others to gauge their reactions; Lynx has a strange mix of relief and concern as she watches the greenette go, while Yelena is more focused on the map again, though she glances up to make sure you're alright. Hatice is oblivious to the whole matter, still slumped on the bench and looking vaguely resentful about nothing in particular.
"Well, should we go?" You finally suggest. "Since you know where the shop is, please lead the way!"
"Huh? Oh, right!" Lynx says, snapping back to her cheerful attitude. "Follow me!" You and Yelena do so easily, and after a moment of reluctant waffling, Hatice falls into the tail end of your procession as well.
With the ginger in the lead, the four of you quickly make your way through the station and out onto a brightly-sunlit main street. The blocks are longer than the map made them appear, but even so the trip is incredibly brief, and everything you see serves to reinforce how rural the place is. There's a handful of motor vehicles present, but they're distinctly different from the long, lower-slung luxury automobiles of Barrasson. These are workhorses through and through, with high carriages and low flatbeds behind the cabins, loaded down with hay bales, caged chickens, toolboxes, and much more. As you cross the first intersection, you glance over and see someone leading a cow, a real-life cow (You've never seen one before!) down the side street. Meanwhile, none of the buildings rise past two stories tall, with the sole exceptions of a clocktower near the middle of town, and what you assume is town hall not too far from that. The storefronts on the main road here somewhat remind you of the ones back home, but of course there's a greater emphasis on farming equipment and supplies over maritime tools and the like. Despite the smaller size, it's bustling and thriving far more than you've ever seen in Skvarsava, and you suppress a vague sensation of envy.
On the far end of the road, an actually rather respectable distance away due to the size of the blocks, you can see a moderately-sized tan wall looming just over the roofs of the furthest houses, the sky beyond browner and hazier than the healthy blues you see in every other direction. However, Lynx stops you before you can make out any further details; "Here we are!"
Charlotte's Pie Shop is a modest and unassuming establishment sandwiched in between a pair of bigger stores, but it is clearly the most popular of the three, not quite packed but certainly very close as the four of you pile in. The decorations are comfortable and homely, with a motley collection of wooden tables, no two the same shape or size, laid out so there's barely any room for the chairs between them. The ceiling lights are all off, letting the shine from the huge front windows illuminate the place instead; as a consequence, the back corners are dusty and dim in comparison to the front end.
You press closer behind Lynx as she winds through the maze of furniture on her way to the counter, and Yelena and Hatice similarly follow suit; and it's only now that you finally notice the ginger's behavior. In contrast to earlier, she seems strangely twitchy now; flinching if she brushes too close to someone, and avoiding all eye contact with a strange expression. When she glances back to make sure you're keeping up she seems normal, offering a charismatic wink and a smile, but with everyone else, that doesn't seem to be the case. She seemed to be acting similar during the walk outside as well, but you hadn't really been paying attention as you took in the scenery; now, though, it's glaringly obvious. You look closer at some of the people she passes to see if they're the cause, but they appear as confused as yourself, if they even so much as notice her behavior at all. Odd.
Soon you make it to the counter, and you're distracted by the display of various succulent-looking pastries and tarts locked behind the glass. There are a couple of people in line ahead of you, so you're left to drool helplessly at the collection for several long, torment-filled minutes. This has to count as some sort of cruelty, you think. Alexandras have the right not to suffer cruel and unusual punishments like this, right? Your stomach grumbles further, driving the point home. God you're hungry, and the flaky crusts, fresh-gleaming fillings, and enchanting smell aren't helping in the slightest.
Thankfully, the torment is brought to an end as the line shuffles forward, and an older, yet surprisingly sprightly woman steps up behind the counter. "Why hello, girls!" She greets, her deep-set laugh lines crinkling as she gives you a wide smile. "I take it you're the new recruits?"
"How did you know?" You ask without thinking, grinning slightly despite yourself.
"It's around that time of year, and you don't look like any of my regulars," she explains gracefully. "Though…" she tilts her head, looking at Lynx as if trying to dissect a puzzle. "You do look a bit familiar. Have you perhaps visited here before?"
Lynx chuckles nervously, offering a big fake grin. "I have never been to New Cauterets," she says, sounding truthful but still with a strange inflection that you're not quite sure how to read. "Anyway, why don't we order? Can't wait to have your delicious pies."
The lady rolls her eyes at the obvious deflection, but doesn't inquire any further. "Well, in that case, I won't keep you any longer. What can I get for you all?"
Despite the tempting sweets on display, you opt instead for a couple of slices of beef pie, as a proper meal. The four of you take seats around a round table near the front windows, with room for a fifth. At first it's fairly quiet; you're more focused on demolishing your meal than anything else (though halfway through the second slice you find yourself regretting not having savored it more; it's amazing) while Hatice digs into a blueberry tart with surprising zeal and Yelena nibbles at a frosted scone. Lynx, however, absently picks her food apart with a fork, still keeping her head down. "Maybe this was a bad idea," she mutters to herself.
"Is something wrong?" You ask. Yelena nods in agreement, looking relieved you were the one to speak first.
Lynx hesitates, actually taking her first proper bite as a delaying tactic, only to moan happily and start eating the rest as well. Once it's gone she seems to be feeling at least a little bit better; still avoiding looking at anyone else around, but at least able to meet eyes with you again. "It's… complicated," she says, biting her lip. "I'm here as a recruit from Diphaci. That's where I've lived for the past few years. But… not always. My family and I used to be from Cauterets, until the invasion. We moved to Diphaci after getting away, but when a lot of people moved back here more recently… we didn't."
Oh, right. You'd seen something in the newspapers about that, hadn't you? Slight tensions between those who returned to found New Cauterets, and those who had chosen to stay wherever they'd scattered to rather than go back to being in harm's way.
"I see," Yelena comments as well. "So that woman…"
"Charlotte, yeah," Lynx confirms. "I used to visit here a lot back when I lived in old Cauterets. When I saw she'd relocated here, I wanted to come visit, but at the same time… It's probably best she didn't recognize me." Her tone is as forlorn as it is relieved, though.
"I don't know about that," you suggest. "I mean, nobody here has actually said anything, right? You're probably perfectly fine."
"Plus," Yelena chips in, "Even if your family understandably chose to stay away, aren't you coming back to fight? If anyone wanted to make a judgement on your character or courage, they'd have no grounds to do so."
Lynx gives a shrug and a weak grin. "I suppose so." Despite her noncommittal answer, she does cheer up a bit, glancing around at the other patrons to find none of them paying her any mind, and giving you all a grateful smile. Even Hatice, who seemed not to be listening, cracks a slight grin.
And then Elaine sets down her plate with a loud plink, pulling out the last chair to join you.
"Hello again," she says, giving a reserved but genuine smile to most of you, but her gaze turning more coldly cordial toward Lynx. She quickly turns back to you and Yelena, though, inclining her head slightly. "Here I am now. What were we talking about?"
How To Respond?
> Answer Honestly Mention the discussion of Lynx's origins and see what Elaine has to say on the matter.
> Change The Subject We were just talking about… something or other. Yelena, what were we talking about?
-> What Was It? (Write-in/Other)
> Don't Answer You're not sure what to do here, so maybe you'll just say hi back, and leave it at that.
