[Mari]

Arle listened intently to what Viridi had to say. It seemed very methodical and well thought out. She had personally always just burned her problems away herself, but she supposed she was just a kid and her enemies were just a bunch of numbskulls. Murderous, murderous idiots. Perhaps this was just a goddess' intellect showing off. The idea of a reset bomb struck her as a bit odd, but who was she to question her new friend? Bombs didn't seem like the correct tool for rejuvenating anything, but if she said it restored the land--Well... What did she have to lose by believing it?

"That does make a lot of sense. It seems like y-you've given this a lot of thought, Vivi!"

Arle seemed to consider Viridi's plans for a moment. Now where did she fit into all of this? She heard a lot about bases of operations, but the details of how to establish one of those seemed to be missing. Clearly it would involve clearing out an area for use and defending it until they could fortify the area, which did sound a little bit more like her forte. A feeling of compulsion welled up inside of her, startling her momentarily. She wasn't usually this eager to fight.

"So where do you want your base to be?"

Arle was rather forward about her intentions. Why else would someone be asking that question, unless they planned on traveling to the area in question and doing something about it? Arle

[Coolshaymin]

Viridi noticed Arle was still stuttering with her speech. She did not seem to do that any other time they talked before. Her sudden nervousness was getting a tad bit uncomfortable, even for the Goddess. She did not want to think much of it at the moment though because the human's speech issues weren't that concerning. Maybe she was allergic to Curry and it effected her brain despite liking it so much.

Arle did bring up a really good point though. The location of a base was very important to have marked down... which she unfortunately didn't. She was so busy making other plans that the idea of a base was kind of pushed away. "I... do not really have one planned at the moment..." Viridi admitted.

"I have been busy with other matters concerning my plans! However... I have an idea for a good start. I need to build an army to help secure more locations. I like to make my childern out of natural ingredients like plants, trees, earth, fruit, etc.. Therefore, we need to secure an area in the jungle of that ape's in order to have enough variety to build up my troops. Donkey Kong's home is known for it's vast variety of fruits and climates so it is the perfect place to start. After we secure a place there, I can make plenty of forces for recon to find and secure more locations!" Viridi planned.

[Mari]

Arle considered Viridi's proposition. Build a base in... the jungle? On one hand, she understood why--but on the other...

"Oh yeah! Won't that hurt the jungle, though?"

It seemed like a good question at the time, given what little she understood of global environmental consequences, but then of course Arle remembered who she was talking to. Perhaps she owed Viridi a bit more credit than to presume the other had forgotten her own rules. It seemed almost insulting to ask, in hindsight.

"Ah--Aha. Maybe I should leave the worrying about construction to you."

Arle would gently rub the back of her head for a moment. Without missing a beat, she would proceed to flash Viridi a thumbs up.

"Leave it to me, Vivi~! I can go to Donkey Kong's jungle and find an area for building. Before you know it, Mario and Sonic will be seeing our way of doing things~!"

[Coolshaymin]

Arle's ignorance kind of showed itself when she asked if building her base in the jungle would hurt the jungle. It was kind of an insulting question as well considering she kind of assumes Viridi was not thinking about the very thing she protects. Viridi decided to push out any angry thoughts on the matter since Arle seemed innocent enough... Not going to think too far on that train of thought though. Best to get her mind off of it with an explanation. "My bases are usually very natural. I make my bases out of only the most natural ways. It's not like I am clearing an area for construction work. I am just expanding the nature for my purposes," Viridi explained.

"Anyway, that would be an excellent first act to show your loyalty to the Forces of Nature. I have other matters to attend to while you do that but..." Viridi paused as she considered something. Humans were a lot harder to keep in contact with than angels... But Arle was magical so maybe it could still work. "I will keep contact with you and use telepathy to see your surroundings! That way you are not alone and I can make sure you don't do anything bad while I am aiding you!" Viridi offered.

[Mari]

Arle's eyes lit up with wonder at Viridi's description of her ... expansion project. It was beyond the young girl's imagination, and curiosity danced just behind those lashes. Nature was always very pretty. Perhaps Viridi's base would be very pretty too! Arle was already trying to imagine it. Twisting trees, and--...No, wait, trees didn't twist. That sounded painful. What could it possibly be? She wondered.

"That actually sounds ...incredible, Vivi!"

Arle was clearly impressed by her description. She had seen a lot of crazy things in her time, but this was pretty new to her.

"I guess that was a pretty silly question, huh."

Arle seemed to recognize Viridi's feelings without the other needing to lash out at her. The girl even seemed a little nervous, though at what was unclear. "Look at me, second guessing the goddess of nature." Arle went on to remark, anxiously making fun of herself. The notion that she was afraid of Viridi seemed unlikely, given how well they had gotten along, so what was going on in her head? The truth was, Arle didn't know. Her heart was aflutter and yet her brain wasn't getting the oxygen it needed. Why did she care so much how Viridi thought of her? It was, frankly, unlike her. Yet, she couldn't deny the song her heart was singing. Thus, an anxious Arle presented herself. Viridi's proposal, however, seemed to make her relax as her mind drifted back to the mission at hand. Having Viridi around to guide her via telepathy sounded pretty awesome, come to think of it.

"I'd like that."

Arle glanced over her shoulder for a moment, as if looking for something. "...Sometimes I feel really alone and lost. There aren't many familiar faces around here." Arle admitted, cupping her hands in front of her to keep herself from fidgetting. "Now I won't have to." she would go on, beaming cheerily at Viridi. It was a truthful statement. At times like this, Arle could even begin to miss her enemies. ...Except Satan. He could go away.

"And... um... Thanks, for being so kind to me. Nobody's ever... It means a lot to me--both the curry and the opportunity."

[Coolshaymin]

Viridi felt like she should take offense and reply offensively to her assumptions... But Viridi did not really feel up to that for some reason. Viridi decided not thinking too far into it would be for her best efforts. These things were only to help the Forces of Nature grow so they can stop the Starvia. Nothing more is into this in the slightest.

The second comment given by Arle caused Viridi to suddenly snap to attention though. Her thanking her out in the open will not do for her. She does have a certain reputation to maintain. At least, that is what she is telling herself when reacting. "D-don't get the wrong idea, Arle. I am doing this because you are now a server of the Forces of Nature! I am only aiding you so that we can defeat the Starvia!" Viridi stated though she did not sound like she entirely meant that.

[Mari]

Arle flinched as Viridi rebuffed her. Confusion raced across her features. What had she done to deserve such disdain? Was it something she had said? Viridi's words hurt, and it showed in her eyes. They swam with doubt--self-doubt, confusion, anxiety. Why was this happening to her?

"..."

v9onKceZp_1d20+4 (Arle's Perception)

Suddenly, Arle recognized what was going on. Something in Viridi's tone didn't seem entirely genuine, and the anxiety melted from Arle's expression. She seemed to relax, a smile returning to grace Viridi with its presence. It was an act. Arle wasn't entirely sure why Viridi was putting on an act for her, but the important part was that it wasn't real. She still had a chance to be Viridi's friend, but for now she had to take the hint.

"...Right. I understand."

Arle nodded in acknowledge of the other and moved to finish off what remained of the curry. "In that case, it sounds like I should get to work. Unless there was anything else you wanted to discuss?" she would go on, implicitly offering to leave so as not to further aggravate whatever it was that putting Viridi off.1d20+4

[Coolshaymin]

It would appear the human took her words better than expected. Proved the human was smart enough to tell they weren't true. She seemed willing to leave now too which Viridi was considering. She was not sure she wanted the human to go just yet... Arle did seem different from most humans she has come to known... Not that that puts them off the endangered list but she was tolerable to be around.

"Hold it! I did not grant you permission to leave yet," Viridi ordered.

"You get food from a Goddess and try to leave before returning that favor?" Viridi questioned to buy extra time really. She was right in that she did not really need to eat but an excuse was an excuse. Besides, making a human do tasks for her was too fun of an idea to pass up at the moment. "Get me something to eat and stay with me until I finish. After you do the same favor as I did for you, then you may leave!" Viridi commanded.

[Mari]

Arle flinched as Viridi unexpectedly took an authoritative tone with her. For a moment, she was right back into wondering what she'd done wrong, but luckily this time Viridi quickly answered her own question before she had any time to stress about it.

"O-Oh! Alright. That sounds fair."

Arle was a bit flustered. She didn't understand what was happening, but she wasn't about to question it. Virid wanted her to stay, and that was good enough. Perhaps she'd understand later! The young girl glanced over her shoulder, eyeing the food counter thoughtfully. She then turned her gaze back on Viridi, smiling in a friendly manner. Food was something she understood! "I'll be right back with your food, Viridi!" Arle added, holding up a finger before running off to the counter.

"Let's see... Um..."

Arle was a bit stumped. Maybe she should have asked what Viridi liked before running off like that! ...She had to be careful with her choice. ...Then again... An idea came to Arle. She went on to place her order.

...

Arle would take a bit longer than expected but she returned with a big smile on her face and set down a plate absolutely loaded with food including several fish shaped cakes filled with a red bean paste, a dozen Rice dumplings coated with sesame seeds, a sliced and cooked Winter squash, a half dozen strawberries, and a variety of mixed seeds and nuts. Arle set the extremely generous portion of food down before Viridi, smiling ever so brightly at her before moving to sit back down with her. It was a deliberate move, getting a lot of food. She knew Viridi wouldn't ask her to take it back or anything like that, and so it meant they had a bit more time together.

"...I hope you like it all. I had a hard time choosing."

[Coolshaymin]

Viridi waited for Arle to return with the food she requested and was growing kind of impatient. She was taking a really long time to just go and get some food for Viridi to eat. When she did come back, it was a bit of an unexpected surprise to be had. She had gotten quite a hefty amount of food for one person. It was all very Japenese in taste really which Viridi was okay with.

"...." She kind of just stared at the sheer amount of food for a few seconds as she thought to herself. "Do you really think I can eat ALL of this? What kind of Goddess eats this much food for herself?!"

"I guess I will just need to share it with you then. I hope you still have enough room for more food because I am not accepting a no. You are eating at least a quarter of it!" Viridi ordered. Her tone was not as strict as her words would imply. She seemed more like she was offering to split.

"So... What exactly did you do in your world, anyway?" Viridi asked for small talk as she ate a few nuts.

[Mari]

Arle flinched again as Viridi spoke and the girl began timidly tapping her pointer fingers fingers together, withdrawing a bit in an apologetic manner.

"I--I, um... Alright. I just wanted to stay here with you for a while, is all."

Arle's tone was very quiet as if she was afraid of being overheard. "Gu, gu gu gu gu~!" Carbuncle blurted out, lunging into the air and snatching one of the bean paste filled bread fish treats for himself. Arle giggled at the display. "Way to be a team player, Carbuncle~" she remarked humorously. The young mage took one of the rice dumplings for herself. She wasn't a big eater, lest her girlish figure suffers for it, but she wouldn't disappoint Viridi by refusing to share.

...Besides, she'd made progress! Last time, Viridi had refused to share~

"Well, I was a student of magic. I went to school, tried to learn some spells. One day I want to be." Arle explained, her tone suggesting she wasn't finished.

"But... Mostly, I just got caught up in a bunch of nonsense and wound up fighting the forces of darkness and the black kingdom."

[Coolshaymin]

The human said something about staying but it was a little quiet. She was acting a lot different than the last few times they have met. Viridi ate a strawberry as she listened regardless. Honestly, her story reminded her a lot of how she was trying to reset things... then the Goddess of Light and Hades got in the way of her plans. That was a very frustrating time to be sure. "That sounds very familiar," Viridi stated though she did not go into it. It was also a common trait in a lot of video games but she won't go into that.

Viridi decided she might as well ask the human about their weird actions now as she ate another strawberry. It did seem very odd and Viridi was more than a bit curious to the odd behavior. Besides, it would be fun to see her act very confused if she was not entirely sure. "By the way, I have been meaning to ask. You have been acting weird ever since I gave you that curry. It was not poisoned with something odd was it? Are you sure you're okay?" Viridi asked as genuninely as she could muster.

[Mari]

"Yeah. I guess I've been on quite a few adventures."

Arle chuckled weakly, reminiscing about all of her adventures. It was an understatement, really. How many 'adventures' had she been on, now? A dozen? Two dozen? "There were big, maze-like towers, lots of annoying enemies, lots of evil doofuses and monsters..." Arle continued, seeming to muse aloud, shaking her head slightly as one particular doofus came to mind. "I made a few friends too, though, so it wasn't all bad." Arle would finish, a hint of sadness entering her tone. One likely didn't need to be reminded that she missed some of her companions.

But then, Viridi asked a question that put Arle right in the spotlight. Her cheeks turned a nice shade of red as she became flustered, unsure how to answer Viridi's question.

"I--I, um... I'unno, really. I fe-feel fine. I just--You know..."

The question really seemed to make Arle squirm in her seat, the young girl becoming ever so awkward and unsure of herself. Arle rarely became this flustered, and so it not even she knew how to handle herself in this sort of situation. What were these emotions? What did she say? Would she get yelled at? How much of a dork must she look like right now? One could just see the worry in her eyes, on her expression, in her body language. The way she held herself, way she couldn't sit entirely still...

[Coolshaymin]

Viridi observed the human as they seem horribly uncomfortable. She never seen a human squirm with such a simple question... then again, she never did talk to humans much to begin with. Still, she could not help but feel this felt odd. Maybe that love theory from earlier was not so ridiculous as she ate a Winter Squash Slice.

The way she squirmed was kind of funny to watch if she had to be honest. She never had so much fun messing with a human before... Granted, this is the first time she had done it but still, fun regardless. She decided to push it a step forward and see how she would react. "Okay, okay. I see my question was a little too vague for you. Let me simple it a bit."

"My new question will be a lot simpler. Do you love me?" Viridi said teasingly. She did not sound entirely serious with the question. Her posture also donated to the fact the question was not supposed to be serious at all. Still, if one was caught off guard, they might ignore the joking side completely and get quite flustered.

[Mari]

Arle was busy struggling to regain her composure in what little amount of time she had between each word they exchanged. Her heart was racing and she didn't understand where all these feelings were coming from. She would politely nod in an anxious manner as Viridi explained she was going to simplify her question a bit. She could go for simple right about now! Simple sounded relaxing. That all went out the window when Viridi actually asked, however. Arle's eyes widened in surprise and her lungs just sort of shut down. Did she... love Viridi?? The obvious answer was no. No girl in her right mind would admit something like that at a time like this. Viridi would think she was crazy! ...But... did she? Arle found it hard to believe she was in love, let alone with another girl, yet...

"Wh--..Uwaa?!"

...Maybe it was the lack of oxygen slowly beginning to strangulate her brain, but Arle couldn't formulate an answer either way. Her face turned a nice shade of red as she promptly missed any and all pretense of Viridi teasing her. Could she be in love? Could she love another girl? Could she be in love with Viridi in particular? All of these questions were new to her, or at least the possibility was. She'd always been very ...independent, but had it ever been by choice alone? The young girl whimpered something incoherent out in response, but Viridi wouldn't be able to understand her. Arle was starting to have trouble thinking straight, and her vision was beginning to blur. Panicking a bit, Arle squirmed and attempting to adjust where she sat--but lifting her weight was the last straw. Arle's survival instincts had completely failed her, and the girl promptly fainted on the spot and collapsed onto the floor. She'd forgotten to breath. Only after her overly emotional brain shut down and her reptilian brain kicked back in did she resume breathing.

...Carbuncle promptly pretended to faint next to Arle.