Fish happily plip plaps beside Kamille as they walk. Normally Fish would not share trade secrets so readily, but there was a strange feeling in Fish's chest to reciprocate the kindness. Kamille was being more than agreeable to pay Fish's extortionist rates.

They watch the short transaction before once more following after Kamille and hopping up onto a bench. Fish looks over the pie, tilting their head to inspect it. Being a practiced poisoner it is more just a force of habit than any distrust of the witch.

Fish sets the pie down so they can talk a bit more, "One of Fish's business associates has a god problem, so Fish worked out a solution.....Fish also wishes to some day demonstrate the gods are useless. This will help prove that."

Kamille tried not to stare, but... Wasn't it so cute the way Fish hoped by her side?!?! She would never get used to it......

For a moment, she gladly ate the pie without taking much notice about Fish's distrust. Truth be told, it was kinda normal for people to distrust what she would offer - which she wasn't sure if it was a testament to her fame or maybe to the crowd she's been hanging with... or possibly both.

Fish's answer seemed to surprise the Witch, something that didn't happen much. A thoughtful expression crossed her elven features, as she stopped eating for a moment, her eyes set on the street before them without actually seeing. She hadn't have the time to unpack the happenings of the few weeks prior - Kamille would rather focus on the mundane and put it off as long as possible.

But it didn't seem like an option anymore. Kamille didn't know much about Fish, but... They did seem to share some view on the Gods, at the very least.

"You are a good friend to worry about your associate like that."

Fish didn't regard his "business associate" as a friend, but she would assume as much. As for his remark about the Gods being useless...

"Fish.... Have you heard what happened in Arid Mesa?"

"Fish has....but it just proves Fish right.  The gods were nothing but meaningless idiots. What does Fish need the gods for when Fish is the one who makes what Fish needs? Fish does not need to ask Ginma to make things or seek Solaria's approval to act." They nod firmly before tossing a bite of pie back into their beak.

It doesn't show in their hand signs or facial expressions, but this is the closest Fish really ever gets to anger. They did have a particular disdain for the gods and had no qualms expressing it. When Fish was abandoned, it was not a god or even one of their priests that stopped to help Fish. No cleric offered them a home or a meal. As much as they liked stealing and being a thief, this was not a life the consciously chose, it was somewhat forced upon them through need and being exploited by others.

They had yet to reach the point of self-actualization to realize that though. Right now they were just a little punk ready to attack and dethrone god.

Kamille remained quiet for a moment, slowly eating her pie. While much more inflammed than what she was used to listening, Fish's 'speech' was much similar to her father's - though her father was much more roundabout with his words, she could see their intentions were the same. Knowing now what the Sol Stone actually was, and seeing all that Scern had lived, she started to wonder how much did her father actually know about all of that. Did he know what the Sol Stone was? He'd been searching for it. Why did she have a suspicion there was more to her father than met the eye?

Kamille took a deep sigh.

"Maybe 'useless' doesn't feel like the right word for it. Some people find comfort in knowing there's always someone they can pray for that will be listening, whether or not that actually does anything... I've tried for a time, I prayed for Solaria to bestow their healing powers upon me when I was a girl. Lost a few friends because of it."

The Witch would never think that, of all people, that was a story she would be telling a criminal bird. Even if his expression or body language wasn't easy to read, perhaps a part of her felt his anger at some subconcious level - after all, fire recognized fire.

"I've seen it, Fish. How it all happened, in the past. How the Gods died. Most of our history is a lie. And I feel for the people who base their whole lives around them, they must be feeling lost right now. But as for me..."

She made another pause. It was the first time she was actually using to unpack her feelings about what happened in Arid Mesa. Fish was a good listener, indeed, and some part of her knew that what she was saying couldn't possibly be used against her. She's been wrong before, but... She's been revealing herself much of a gambler lately.

She finally spoke up.

"It's liberating. Don't you think? If the Gods have no saying in what happens to us, it means we have our lives in our own hands. Everything that happens to us, is our doing. It might be a heavy burden, but... What do you think?"

Fish does quietly listen to give Kamille her time to speak. Their little feet dangle off the edge of the bench and kick idly as they listen. There probably was a far off reality where Fish did believe in the gods or at least would be wise enough to give them the passing deference that others did. Faithful or not, they watched how most would thank a god for something good happening. Fish didn't see a use in it, but they had very different circumstances in life.

They look up to Kamille as she asks them the question, "....Fish's life has always been in Fish's hands. Fish was abandonded, but Fish did not wait for a god to act. Fish was hungry, so Fish took food. Fish did what Fish needed to do to survive. Everything that happens to Fish is because of Fish." And maybe some negative outside influences in the form or manipulators.

"Freedom is not a burden to Fish, it is what is right to Fish....Real or fake, dead or alive, the gods have never had any say in what happpens to Fish."

"Then I commend you for your bravery, Fish. To own up your own life. I believe some would be terrified to admit their own lives to be their own doing. I have always seen freedom to come hand in hand to responsibility - if you are free to make your own choices, you are fully responsible for the consequences of said choices. There are... nuances to it, of course. Sometimes we're just victims of circumstances - but even still, it is yet our choice of how to frame such circumstances. It is easy to blame the Gods for our misfortunes. It is hard to own up to our life. You are very brave, Fish."

Then she looked to the side, just in time to see Fish's cute feet dangling out of the bench, feeling her heart melt away. If she understood it right, Fish was one of those who saw in crime the opportunity for a life different than the one of hunger and fear. She wasn't one to hardly pass judgement onto others - at least not out loud - so she didn’t comment on it right away. Instead, she offered him another take.

"If.... You ever come to wish for another life... One that doesn’t involve stealing to survive, but still wanna retain a part of who you are... You may knock at my door, and I'll do my best to help you. I like you a lot, Fish, and I see potential in you. Hope all goes well for you."

Kamille seemed to suddenly remember something, as she put her empty plate to the side to search her satchel. The Witch took out what looked like a parchment wrapped with a golden band.

"I got this a while ago in a tomb in Zeinav... I want you to have it." 

They tilt their head when Kamille calls them brave. Were they? This didn't seem like a particularly brave thing to believe, just more common sense to the bird. Fish did not waste time looking for others to blame, though that has probably led to their slightly off putting attitude when working with others. Fish was a perfectionist deep down, so if things went wrong, it would set Fish off. They demanded the best of themselves because only they controlled their destiny and they put that same expectation on others.

There is another blink as the head turns the other way when Kamille seemingly offers a job or at least some kind of opportunity. Another unexpected thing to come out of today. They take the scroll silently, looking at it in their hands. Fish gently wriggles the band free to look over the words....This feels somewhat familiar to them. Something about it just feels like it makes sense given their Scarab training. For the moment they are entirely absorbed in reading the scroll.

Kamille can wait as long as they want, never getting sick of just watching the small criminal bird. Maybe what she said didn't make much sense to them and the life they've had so far, but for her those words had meaning nonetheless. Curious that, of all creatures, the one that would come close to her own view of the Gods was a criminal bird she found at random someday scamming her.

The Witch didn't even realize she was smiling.

Looking around for a moment reminded her it was possible Fish had other things to do. After all, they were on their own, fishing for jobs around the town. And they did accompany her for her own task there. Kamille searched her satchel a bit more and put a small purse of coin on the bench to his side a while after, giving him some good moments to really take in what was in the scroll.

"The scroll is a gift, and this is your payment for helping me back there. Do you have a place to stay tonight? Oh! This reminds me... If you ever come across the Moonveil forest and find yourself with no place to stay, my door is always open. There's always warm food an extra beds for friends. Just....... Don't try to sneak in, okay? I have put up some wards and... The magic tends to react badly to things trying to sneak in or force their way in... Now. Do you still wanna me to show you around town?"

They roll the scroll up and tuck it back away into their pouch before looking up at Kamille. The offer is curious. It really wasn't often that they found themselves being offered any kind of kindness, but Kamille seemed to be fairly different than most.

The witch was doting, but not overbearing as some of the others had been. She seemed to have little interest in telling Fish what to do, in fact quite the opposite. She might honestly be a bit too enabling of their tendencies. If Fish felt guilt, this would be where they would feel bad about exploiting that.

"Fish may take that offer some day, Fish's home is back in Zeinav City......Fish can follow Kamille for a bit. Fish has no pressing meetings today, Fish was simply scouting for more supplies for potions or poisons."

Oh.... Fish wanted to spend more time with her?!? She felt her heart melting for the bird. They were so cute~

"Oh! Supplies for potions and poisons? Maybe I can take you to my favorite supplier here. Come, let's go."

Kamille waited for Fish to finish his pie and once again stood up to lead him through the streets, walking a bit slower than usual as to not let his tiny legs get him behind. Not that she would, because Fish was incredibly agile, she could see as much.

"Zeinav? That's interesting. Sometimes I crash at someone else's house back at Zeinav, perhaps we could meet there sometime? I won't invite you up to the Villa because it's not my property but... uhm... If you ever come across the Villa of the Lost Souls and its Master, please be nice... He's... uhm... A dear friend."

Some color rose to her cheeks once again, but she couldn't know for sure why. It's been so much time since she last saw the Villa or its Master... She hoped everything was well. It was like he vanished from the face of the continent...

"I came to like Zeinav very much. Do you like to live there? Do you live alone?"

Fish tilts their head at the mention of the villa. They remember Zarius mentioning something about the place and its owner, curious to see that it connects back to Kamille as well. Though Fish is learning the world is small for people that live as adventurers or operate in the underbelly at least.

"Fish lives in a shed behind Morrigan and Kvasir's house. Fish likes the privacy...and the cleanliness." They shudder thinking of all the glitter that is now just embedded in the Desert Rose. You can never clean it all up, there's always some that lingers. ALWAYS LINGERING THERE.

Kamille's eyes lit up when Fish mentioned the names. It would be such a coincidence, wouldn't it........? Was this the same Morrigan they were talking about? The flamboyant, glittery fellblood? She would have to know...

"Cleanliness? Are your partners messy? How do you guys get along?"

She chuckled at the thought. While she wasn't a particularly orderly person, she had a distinct memory about her father being a highly organized one, and knew first hand how the clash could be stressful at times.

"Oh, I completely understand... You know, at first I lived at a small room on Moonveil Village... But then my name started to be thrown around too much, business prospered... And I managed to get my house in the woods. I get a bit more of privacy, and it so happens that only those who really need my services and are willing to pay will make the effort to find me. Now, last seasons have made me question my availability... A few ruffians and mercenaries have tried to raid on my house, so I have to reconsider the subject of security.... I have raised a few wards around it, but I'm not satisfied still.... I don't know.... Maybe I'll have to find a way for my house to simply sprout out legs or something... So it could literally run away from threats..."

It could be a silly thought... If the one going about it wasn't a witch.

In no time, Kamille stopped at another shop, indicating it Fish.

"Let's go buy your supplies? While we're at that, you could tell me what I will need to buy to make your potion, maybe. So I get everything ready when I manage to buy your recipe."

Once again the Witch smiled at Fish, pressing forward and entering the cluttered space of the Runes and Fumes shop.

"Morrigan is not allowed in Fish's shed.....or Morrigan gets stabbed....Morrigan often gets stabbed." They look to Kamille as she talks. "Does Kamille want Fish to teach her how to make explosives as well? Traps can be a good deterrent to keeping unwanted people from the house."

As they walk Fish ponders the ways to make a house more ambulatory. Giant mechanical legs would be quiet an undertaking....the power alone needed to lift a house...then there's the matter of where do the legs go when the house settles? Would they be visible or need to be hidden inside the house?

Designs and blueprints are being sketched out in their head. Fish's eyes flitter around as if chasing after floating equations. It takes a moment to realize that Kamille is leading them into a store. They nod and follow after the witch. Fish hands a list of ingredients over to Kamille to allow them to do their own quick errand run.

Fish is a great listener. Kamille likes to talk to Fish, as they won't interrupt her - not that they could - and was still paying attention, although she does notice there is a moment they look a bit lost in thoughts.

"You okay, Fish? This Morrigan you are talking about... Reminds me of a Morrigan that I met sometime ago. Incredibly entertaining fellblood, I fairly enjoyed them, when we kept meeting for nights of storytelling. Punchable face, I assume, if I could punch. But I loved their company, regardless. Tried to scam me, but failed. It'sa good way of startinga friendship, don’t you think? Maybe if they were wearing a costume with black feathers they would have had more luck in swindling me, huh?"

At that remark, Kamille offered Fish a meaningful wink - it was hard to say how much Kamille was actually seeing through everything that was going on, but one thing that was very transparent was how much she was enjoying the little criminal's company. She got the list of ingredients Fish was offering her.

"Also, by the Gods how much glitter... That was a sparkly fellow. Does your Morrigan also puts an unholy amount of glitter on all of their potions? We might as well be talking about the same guy..."

Upon entering the store, Kamille offered the owner behind the counter a polite nod of the head. Recognition lit his eyes, and he nodded in return, going back to doing whatever he was doing. The Witch walked around the store looking for the ingredients with the looks of someone who had already been there a lot of times.

"And about the explosives, I will have to say that's not gonna be my answer. People still have to be able to come to me - at least those who really need. I offer help for travelers and people who are in need. If they tell me their stories, they can find in my house healing, a quiet place to sleep and warm food. From what I gather, you don’t receive much visits. Do you visit Morrigan often?"

"Fish is just thinking of ways to make Miss Kamille's house ambulatory......that is the same Morrigan...Fish hopes it is the same Morrigan....There is only so much room in the world for chaos...The glitter is why Morrigan is not allowed in Fish's shed. Fish needs to work in a sterile environment, Morrigan is a walking contaminent."

The aviankin keeps a look out for the ingredients, making sure Kamille is actually getting what they need and this seller isn't trying to swindle them. It's less that they don't trust Kamille to be able to figure it out, but more of just a muscle memory for the bird. Working with Morrigan has made them more keen to how scams work.

"Fish's shed is behind Morrigan and Kvasir's house. No one visits Fish's house, but Fish makes visits to others. Where Fish lives is not intended for visitors, this is how Fish prefers it.....Fish's work is delicate and sensitive, so Fish likes to eliminate as many variables as possible. If Fish is the only one that goes in and out, then Fish does not have to account for anything but Fish."