She frowned in dismay as the sweetness of the apple cider coated her tongue and the fizz of the cider attacks her tongue. She could never understand why these people enjoy such tastes. Artificial….
After a while, she took a swift glance through the papers Zhang Li left her before placing money for the food in place for them. She scowled before making her way out the door. As she made her way through the crowd of people dressed up, she noticed grim pointing at a barber shop. Jamil disappeared into the shop as Malleus, Sebek, Riddle, and Rollo spoke something else. However, Jamil returned with something that shocked Grim and Yuu before they turned and left. Malleus was the first to notice her as she stood there in her new get up. He pouted much to her confusion. Why was he upset this time?
Suddenly, a white goat approached the group. It took a glance at Malleus, then it glued itself to his side. As it danced and folicked much to their surprise. Lotus couldn't help but snicker softly at the ridiculous sight. However, Malleus heard her laugh immediately and sent a glare at her as she smirked playfully. It would seem the jig was up. She approached the group as she chuckled, "I see you found a sense of companionship with the community goat."
The others looked to her in surprise. Even Rollo who had approached them was also taken aback by her sudden appearance. Hearing a newcomer, the goat jumped and tugged on Malleus's black cape. Riddle who had caught sight of Rollo greeted him politely, "Oh, hello there, Rollo. Are you making your rounds?"
"Just so." Rollo nodded back kindly, "I was slightly concerned about how you all were faring. However, Mister Lotus is correct. This goat is a community goat cared for by the whole city."
"I've heard of community cats, but never goats..." Jamil noted in surprise.
"We consider goats to be bringers of good luck here in Fleur City. We treat them with care." Rollo replied, "They say if you're kind to one, it will come running to your aid when you're in trouble."
"Interesting..." Riddle thought carefully, "That fact wasn't in any of the books I read before coming here."
"They're considered ordinary animals here, the same as cats and dogs. It hardly merits writing about."
"It is more of a culture that is not mentioned unless a resident from this city travels outside." Peony responded bluntly, "Let's say if community cats are a common knowledge to those in Scalding Sands, then it could be that others do not have community cats, but rather community dogs or foxes. However, it just so happened that it is goats within this city. I recall having heard from a resident that, during one of the city's darker days, one of the major figures who aided the people also raised a young goat. This goat would have a bell around their neck and follow closely behind this gypsy owner. Whenever she danced along the streets, it would dance along with her. However, due to strong conservative ideas in the past, this part was later forgotten. Nowadays, when you hear of this tale, most would only mention of the owner being one of the key figures or a dancer. If brought up now, the chances of there being a spark is lower than before. The goat was also extremely intelligent. It knew when people are in trouble and when they are struggling from what sort of threat. In times, it would use its intellect to distract those with ill intent from its friends so that they may have a chance of escape. People witnessed this quite often during those days as well. Thus, Fluer City highly respects their goats."
"Interesting." Riddle looked to her in surprise, "I did not think that ideas could also heavily affect records of history in books."
"Books are written by the winners, but they are also written by the survivors." Lotus shrugged, "Depending on the people you go around asking, you will only get a variety of different answers."
"If they're highly regarded here, then we must be careful in how we treat them." Malleus suggested as he petted the goat.
"Bah, bah."
Seeing the goat respond with frolics and a wagging tail, Riddle chuckled, "It seems to have taken a shine to you, Malleus. Look at the way it follows you around."
"Hm. How unusual." Malleus noted in surprise before smiling in amusement, "Most animals tend to be afraid of me. You must be quite fearless, little one."
Jamil thought quietly before it dawned on him, "Ah... Wait a minute."
"What is it, Jamil?" Sebek raised a brow.
"Nothing..." Jamil hesitated with a trouble look.
"You clearly stopped yourself from saying something. It makes me wonder what you're hiding!" Sebek scolded him.
With a heavy sigh, Jamil slowly opened his mouth with a look of regret as he did so, "I was just thinking... Maybe the goat saw Malleus's horns and thinks he's one of them."
"...One of them?" Malleus looked down on the goat in bewilderment as Peony bursted out laughing.
"BAAAH!" The goat responded looking directly at Malleus.
"Pffft! Haha! I wouldn't be surprised." Lotus laughed, "It's not as though there are any other faes or beastmen nearby with horns. Animals are as naive as children sometimes. They can be sly or mischevious, but, aside from social structure and rules, they don't have any monetary rules such as trading of monetary value and such making them pretty naive. It probably wants you to play with him too."
"WRETCHED GOAT! HOW DARE YOU!!!" Sebek scolded it much to their surprise, "You presume to treat my liege as one of your brethren?! Your piddly horns are NOTHING compared to his!"
"Bah! Bah!!" The goat bleated as it leapt around playfully.
"Now you're leaping and bounding about Get back here! You shall pay for your insolence!" Sebek hollered as he chased after the goat. Seeing this humours scene before her, Lotus simply leaned back against a lamp post and watched the show with a smirk.
"Don't chase it. What part of "we treat them with care" did you not understand?" Rollo scolded him with a scowl.
"I apologize for his appalling lack of manners." Riddle bowed his head apologetically.
"Look." Jamil pointed at the goat playing with Sebek, "The goat's hopping just out of Sebek's reach. Is it teasing him?"
"Oh yes, our city goats are rather clever." Rollo nodded, "They also sometimes help local businesses by hauling goods. The smarter they are, the more mischievous they can be...but we love them all the same."
Seeing Rollo hide his expression behind a handkerchief again, Lotus watched quietly. However, she suddenly felt a warm nudge on her hand as she looked down and saw that the creature and came up to her and pushed their head under her palm. The pulsating warm surprised her as she watched the goat bleated out at Sebek prompting him to want to jump at the goat. However, as he did, Lotus flicked him back on the forehead. Sebek was taken aback as he grumbled in bewilderment, "Ow..."
"Isn't it about time you picked on someone your size now?" She smirked.
"What did you say?!" Sebek glared at her.
The goat took this chance and snuck back to Malleus's side as it pulled on his cape. Quite interested in the development, Malleus smiled, "It doesn't fear me at all. What an amusing creature. I like it."
"What?! Wretched goat... You must learn your place!" Sebek lunged for it only to be grabbed from the back of his collar by Lotus again.
Jamil groaned in dismay, "Again, you're not in competition with the goat..."
"Hehe..." Lotus chuckled as the goat came back to her for more pets.
As she stroked the smooth fur, she noticed how friendly the goat was. Perhaps the absence of the practice to butcher its kind in these parts greatly aided in the sense of security within the city.
To be able to be so carefree... It must be nice.
"That goat has taken a liking to you as well." Riddle looked to her in confusion.
Lotus thought for a bit, "I've been working with plants for a while now. Perhaps that is why this little one is here."
She petted him, "Unfortunately, I don't have any treats for you."
However, as it tugs harder on her cloak, she sighed in defeat. Jamil frowned, "So you do have something on you?"
She nodded and took out a pill bottle sending the goat jumping up and down in a frenzy trying to get it. Riddle scowled, "More pills?"
She smirked and tossed it to him. Riddle raised a brow and opened the bottle then dumped out the contents. It was small pills that smelt of bell peppers. He looked to her in confusion, "Bell peppers?"
Lotus laughed, "Let's just say… they are for the pickier eaters."
"Grim?" Jamil raised a brow in confusion, "Wouldn't he eat anything?"
"I hadn't even said it was him." Lotus smirked, "I was hoping Riddle can pass this onto Deuce."
Hearing this, Riddle frowned, "I did not think he was still being picky with his food."
"You know he is a late bloomer. The same can be said for his taste buds. So he still can taste the bitterness in the vegetables from time to time. I've inputted some medicinal herbs so he should be able to put up with the taste until he can eat the actual vegetable himself." She smirked, "As for payment, I've just received it."
The goat bleated loudly and pulled on Riddle's sleeve this time. He struggled to pull away as he grimaced, "No! You can't eat this!"
Lotus shook her head and pulled out another bottle. She pulled open the lid as a strong smell leaked out of it. The goat immediately released Riddle's sleeve and turned to her before prancing over hurriedly. Shocked by the scent, Rollo covered his face with his handkerchief, "This-!"
"Sage." She replied with a smirk and tossed a pill to the goat, "A pill made purely from Sage."
"What a strong smell!" Riddle was taken aback by surprise.
As the goat gobbled it up and bleated for more, Lotus petted its head and hummed in amusement, "Interesting. It enjoys Sage."
"Huh, perhaps we should call it Sage." Malleus suggested with a smile.
"It's not a bad name. Though I wonder if Sebek would also want to give it a name." Lotus smirked as she could see his face contort in a mixture of grief.
Ah, the face of defeat!
Quite an appetizer, really.