—Rilly— What's happening over here? —Zabelle— Some monster girls showed up... Casandra's gotten into an argument with them... —Helen— Is she gonna be alright, Jiro? Not that I'm worried, or anything. —Jiro— ... → I think she has this under control Please tell me I don't have to step in here I'm going to have to end up mediating this aren't I Uggghhhh Coral * I agree that security is important to a place like this, but look! * We're as benign a pair of tourists as you could ask for. We have no weapons, pure intent... —Casandra— Proteus didn't have any weapons either, didn't stop him laying waste to us with his fell majicks! Sunny * Literally anyone could be jumping to blast your shit, by that logic. * What's so special about us that's giving you evil fuckin' wizard vibes, ay? Coral * She's right! * Either you're implying there is something unique about just us two that necessitates a blockade, or you're insisting on a total lockout of all outsiders from your island! Sunny * And it sure as shit can't be the first one. * Cause you've never seen us two before in your life. Right? —Casandra— Y-- yeah, I HAVE never seen you before. And setting aside my merchant's intuitions... Maybe I am advocating a lockout, huh? Maybe it is a good idea! Sunny * Great thinking mate, just fuckin' starve out the whole economy while you're at it. * I'm sure your eight-person island will do GREAT as an isolationist enclave. Coral * Not just that, you'd be depriving all the citizens here of social opportunities with outsiders! * Imagine how impoverished a life like that would be. * No new friends, no outside perspectives... * Such a small social circle just isn't healthy! Sunny * I'm sure it's a good gig for the only merchant in town, though. * Trying to control the whole flow of mammon, huh? Muscle out the competition? —Casandra— Don't you accuse me of--!! It's not a permanent policy, it's about the timing! Proteus just attacked us. And these girls show up now? He said he would return with greater numbers. And now look! Two of them! Two is a greater number than one! It could be a coincidence... but can we take the risk? Sunny * If we were here with intent to thrash your arses, 2v8, why the hell'd we be standing here gabbin' our mouths about it rather than moving to strike? Coral * If we even had such might, we'd have no need to talk things over except as a courtesy. * The fact that we have moved to debate proves our intent! —Casandra— Unless you're here to do some sneaky business, like scouting, or-- Sunny * Sorry, are you accusing us of fucking espionage!? —Casandra— I'm not accusing--! Sunny * No, I see how it is. She's casting fuckin' aspersions on us cause we're not elves! Coral * I am shocked! —Casandra— Excuse you, lizardgirl!! My slander is prejudice-free! I dislike you for entirely species-independent reasons. Sunny * Yeah? Prove it. —Casandra— You-- Now you're just trying to trip me up. You know full well it's impossible to prove a negative like that. Sunny * Wowwww, she can't even prove she's not elf-racist! Coral * I'm sure she didn't mean to offend, Sunny. An attack like she's describing can really rattle someone's perceptions. * I myself know what it's like to be assaulted by evil wizards... * It's an experience that really changes you, you know? —Casandra— ...You made that up. You've never even seen a wizard in your life. Sunny * Baseless accusation there, mate, why would we even lie about that? —Casandra— Because--! Coral * I understand this is a hard time for you, Miss Shopkeeper, maybe we can do something to set your mind at ease? * Perhaps we could ingratiate ourselves with your community! Participate in your customs, help out around town, do what we can to prove our intent! * I would certainly not mind spending some coin at your store... —Casandra— Ngh-- well-- Sunny * Pretty good offer, I reckon. Be pretty odd to turn that down. * Don't you think. —Casandra— Yeah? What about...! —Casandra— Eladea. What about the customs of the Goddess? These outsiders are well-intentioned enough, but do they understand our ways? What if they do something that offends our Goddess, even unthinkingly? Gosh... what if they make her sad... —Eladea— Oh... I never thought of that... —Casandra— And Yuno! She's still so, so new... She's still learning how things work around here! The last thing she needs is all the chaos these newcomers might bring. How are we going to give her the attention she needs with these two running around? —Yuno— Um-- um!!!! —Casandra— And Helen... I'll be honest, more girls around is going to mean more competition for Jiro's affections... —Helen— Wh-- I-- I don't care about that!! —Casandra— I'm sure you don't! But you know, some of the girls here maybe do, and I'm sure it would cause them distress... Coral * Hey!! * Don't listen to her, she's trying to get under your skin! —Casandra— Why shouldn't they? They're stakeholders here too, they deserve to be informed. I'm just bringing in all the relevant parties to this conversation, that's all. Coral * Ngh...!! —Casandra— You agree with me, don't you Jiro? Imagine how much distress it would cause allll the girls here if we let these two tromp about. —Jiro— ... Get your damn hands off me → Distress...? Is this what I am now? A prop you win your arguments with!? —Casandra— You would never want that, would you? You want nothing more than to ensure to happiness of all the girls here. Riiight? —Jiro— ... What the hell do you know about what I want You're right, Casandra, it would cause a lot of problems to have two newcomers here. Imagine. How much. Distress. → I think we should let them in, Casandra. Isn't that what Love is all about? —Helen— Yeah, uh, I agree with Jiro! —Polyta— Good thinking, Jiro! You always know what to say. —Eladea— Yes, Love is our central value, we should never betray that. —Rilly— Yaaay! Go Jiro!!