To Stand Where He Stood (Open)

[Katsu]

Katsu lets out a heavy sigh. He hadn't wanted to go into detail, but it was probably unavoidable.

"That... sounds as if it would be for the best."

Katsu nods a little.

"If you could direct Yanmei and myself, we'd be very grateful."

[Allison Kazim]

"Certainly." Ali nodded, but didn't direct them to where the entrouage was. Instead, she noted hte heavy sigh, the explanation from YanMei. She had no idea how long Katsu had been exiled, or if there was anything attached to the story of having qi, but if he was that tense...well, not that she could blame him. He was finding out if even coming home was an option for him at this point.

At least, she hoped it was coming home and not soe secret plan to foil it all.

"I can also tell you what I saw when I was there, myself, if you like. Less of an insider's view, but i can promise no bias for that same reason."

[Qi Yanmei]

"Oh, well that's perfect." she smiles and nods, looking pleased.

"No need to travel again. You can get your answers AND we can finally take a breather somewhere not simply populated with animals and trees~."

[Katsu]

"Please do."

Katsu nods to Alison.

"I would appreciate anything you had to say about it, and what you saw."

Before glancing at Yanmei again.

"...I thought you liked the animals."

[Allison Kazim]

Apparently Katsu needed to socialize more. At least, that seemed to be YanMei's opinion. Ali's focus flicked back to the other woman for a second, then back to her companion.

"From what I understand, it's changed quite a bit from it's previous reputation." She nodded, recalling the time she'd spent there. "The King Orleander seems competent. People like him, and the city has changed from a wilderness village. It would probably be best to see the advances for yourself, but I've yet to see anyone be homeless or go hungry there. The people are happy." She paused for a moment, then continued.

"They also have their own Academy, like Cabal. A play for people with qi and similar abilities to learn." Considering the territory was known for it's anti-qi user mindset to the point of genocide, and its warlike heritage, it probably sounded like she was describing some other place entirely.

[Qi Yanmei]

"I do, but they aren't great conversationalists." she shrugs before listening to Allison's description of their old territory.

Yanmei tilts her head in thought, tapping her finger on her cheek.

"My, my. How unfortunate all these changes happened AFTER you were thrown out. Maybe they'll treat you to some sort of compensation."

[Katsu]

"I don't think it works that way, Mei-Mei."

Katsu frowns. Not like he would want such compensation even if it existed. That wasn't the point.

"They've advanced that fast? How is that possible?"

[Allison Kazim]

Ali frowned at the woman's comment, feeling more like it was a jab at Katsu. Or would be, if it didn't seem like they relied on each other so much. Then again, the two options weren't mutually exclusive.

"I admit, the idea of conversing with an animal is interesting." She shook her head and continued, looking back to Katsu as she swapped between topics.

"Truthfully? You'd have to ask someone who was there when they started. They developed quickly, though, that's for sure."

[Qi Yanmei]

Yanmei just chuckles at the animal comment.

[Katsu]

"Then it sounds as if that conversation with King Oleander will have to happen sooner, rather than later."

Something he was... relatively nervous about, all things considered.

"Yanmei is special. She has a lot of abilities that I'm not even aware of."

[Allison Kazim]

"I didn't realize there was a 'usual' that truly applied to sprites." She raised a brow at his answer, his acceptance of YanMie being relatively unknown even to himself. It wasn't the idea of not knowing every little detail about her, but the fact that he accepted it without question. Did he bother to look into it, or what? What would cause him to trust her and just roll with it? Loneliness? The fact she was a qi sprite? That part, he was open enough with. It was unusual. They both were.

"Well, they have some here who are apparently from those who called Territory 63 their home before the last battle there. I imagine you could find him sooner, if you wanted." She tilted her head towards the main building. "They're inside if you like.

"I think you might find they're willing to accept the unusual, but you know your situation better than I do."

[Qi Yanmei]

"Oh my, I've been exposed~." Yanmei chuckles, unsure what gave her away. Then again, she'd never met too many of 'her kind' anyway. Maybe they shared an aura.

She just glances at Katsu to see what he wanted to do.

[Katsu]

Katsu glances at her back, and considering Yanmei isn't too worried, it keeps him from being so as well.

"It's... seemingly fine."

He says, before looking at Alison again, though there was an undercurrent of tension, now.

"I'll certainly be looking for them once we're finished."

Katsu admits, nodding.

"But... I am surprised, to be honest. Are qi sprites more common, where you're from?"

[Allison Kazim]

"Physically? No." Ali shook her head. They were both calm about it. Perhaps she was wrong, then. "On paper, mostly. Theories. Rumors. Though it also helps not to refer to others as 'humans' if you don't want raised brows as to why. Unless you're waxing philosophy."

[Qi Yanmei]

"Oh dear, a slip of the tongue." she chuckles at the mention of how she called them humans.

"Maybe I was hoping you'd think I was an angel instead." she winks.