Quoted By:
>If you need to take a weak hit for a joke to land, then it might be worth taking. It's entirely up to you.
>Most quips are mocking or derogatory in nature, but try not to be too mean about it. The whole point is to keep your humor playful. In essence, try not to take everything too seriously.
>If you feel that you or someone else is genuinely in danger, then try not to focus too much on getting the quips out. Let them come naturally.
You nodded to yourself, feeling as if you were starting to grasp what they've been trying to tell you. A hand came down on your left shoulder, and you turned your head to find your grandmother giving you a reassuring smile.
<span class="mu-s">“Everything will be fine.”</span>
You returned her smile and nodded your thanks. Everyone here probably had some idea of how nervous, stressed out and irritable you were feeling right now, but you couldn't let any of that show to the council.
Eventually, the hollowed out spinal column led you to a large pair of wooden doors. And leaning against those doors was a bipedal creature covered in blue fur. His eyes and nose were catlike in appearance, but his physique was otherwise very similar to that of a human. He even had hair that was an entirely different color from the coat covering every inch of his skin. It was black, and styled in a dread ponytail.
As soon as you got close enough, the blue creature pushed off the door and approached you. You were prepared for anything, but you didn’t expect him to extend a clawed hand towards you.
<span class="mu-b">“I'll take those.”</span> he said through two protruding lower canines. His voice was far more gentle than you were expecting, and it further contributed to the confusion that you were feeling.
<span class="mu-s">“Uh…”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“It's okay. This is one of those ‘well-trained warriors’ that I was telling you about.”</span> Young said, dismounting from her own bird and offering the reins to him.
You gave the man a reassessing look, before climbing off of your bird. Blue guy offered you a hand, but you ignored it. The guy was almost as tall as Ben, so you still had to crane your neck up to look him in the eye.
The man wore a tattered Tangzhuang with the jacket open to expose his hairy blue chest. Curiously, that fur around that part of his body was of a lighter pigment. As was the fur on the inside of his arms.
His pants were tapered below the knee with bandages, and his sandals looked like they might fall apart at any moment. However strong this guy was as a warrior, he clearly embraced a bohemian lifestyle.
<span class="mu-s">“Thanks.”</span> you said, handing the reins to him. <span class="mu-s">“I'd say to take good care of her, but I feel obligated to warn you that she might peck someone's eye out if you’re not careful.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“Really? But she's so well-behaved.”</span> the blue creature remarked, running a hand down the dino bird's neck.
You let out a sardonic little chuckle.
<span class="mu-s">“Oh, that's just an act. Believe me, the old bird's a real terror.”</span>
(Cont.)
