"Tang Yin. Jiang." Gale huffed and rubbed his eyes, mustering them. "You are missing an arm. And Jiang, are you a giant or what?. What the hell do you eat to be this big?"
"Hey!" Tang Yin objected and glared at Gale. "I grew five entire centiters; I'll catch up to Tang San. Just you wait. Can we co in?"
He stepped aside. "Sure, co in." He said. "You have to excuse the chaos; I am trying out a few things on the kitchen table, and ever since Yu Hua doesn't clean up anymore, it sohow becos always more, not less, even when I am cleaning up."
Tang Yin stepped into pure Chaos. Papers covering the floor, machinery lying around next to tools that were scattered all over the room. There was a sweird looking construct on the kitchen Table, greasy with a dirty rag next to it, with goggles lying next to it. It was a ss; how had they managed to survive like this?
"Want so tea?" Gale asked, and the two of them nodded when Gale reached out to find sothing. "Say, have you seen my glasses?" He asked. "I can't seem to find them."
"I your Pocket." Tang Yin pointed out, and Gale touched his pocket before taking out the glasses that had peeked out earlier. He put them on, then cursed too them off againa and cleaned them with his shirt. Not much cleaner than before, they were still foggy he put them back up and grumbled.
It seed Gale had thrown entirely himself into work after they had seen him the last ti.
He put them on and then mustered Yin and Jiang. "You both grew taller." He noted, sounding almost surprised. "Where the hell is your arm, Yin? What did you do? Go swimming with the great white shark. Fight a nun?"
"No Sharks involved, though at so point this year, sharks will be involved." She said. "Nun?"
"Well. F*ck." Gale settled on a chair. The papers on the chair make crumpling sounds. "I need to build an arm, and what do you an sharks getting involved soti this year? Of course, a nun, nuns are dangerous. Believe ." Gale shuddered for a mont at the ntion.
"I'd hoped you would build one. The sharks are part of sea god exams," she said and looked around trying ot find a empty spot that was not ssy. "Nuns, really? Now, where is Damian? I have stuff for you two from Yu Hua."
"Damian is off at the Shop," Gale said. "Or at the Port Mafias, I don't know. Barely see him these days. Whenever I am awake, he is away, and vice versa. Yes nuns especially those that are forr Mafia Bosses."
"The port mafia?" Jiang sounded surprised. "A retired mafia boss nun? When did you two get entangled with the mafia? What happened?"
"Damian did, I am not a fan. We underestimated just how much of a difference the presence of a spirit master ant. That happened.." Gale explained and then rembered the tea. He stood up. "We need to be on good terms with them ... no business going anywhere without their finger in the pot these days. When Yu Hua was still around, we never had issues. He scared them off being a spirit Master alone." Gale said, shrugging, and handed over two lab glasses filled with tea. "No worries, though. They only want protection money, and we can afford it."
"Is this safe to drink?" Yin asked, and Gale nodded. She did not like the thought of mafia and protection money, and sothing told her. It was not a case of 'we can afford it all' for long. They likely faced significant challenges at the outset. But she also did not want to pry. The two of them had struggled too long for their independence.
"Should be, took them from the washed stash." He said. Sothing that was not relieving to hear, but Jian g shrugged his shoulders and took a sip.
"Hey, this is actually good," Jiang said, and Yin followed his example. Jiang was right; the tea was delicious, she noted.
"Yin, sit down," Gale said and then pointed to a Chair that had obviously just been lightened by the papers on it because a few sheets were still fluttering around. Tang Yin settled on the offered chair.
"Can I touch?" He asked, and Yin grimaced.
"I don't really like it," she stated. "If you need help with the Mafia thingy, then tell ." Adding it and looking at Gale, who gave her a weak smile.
"Ahh; I think I have to. Get the wrapping off, too. I need to know what I am working with. How did you lose it anyway?" He said before adding more quietly. "Thank you for your offer. However, it's currently fine. We are through the worst of it. Don't worry."
"Sea God Exam." Jiang helpfully provided a hard edge to his voice as Tang Yin tried to ignore Gale, who was taking the bindings off her stump. He was careful about it, but feeling the bare skin hit the air, she shivered with the uncomfortable feeling it spread.
"I am sorry, but it's a must. Well, this is a fine heal here." He said. "almost seamless, you had a good healer at work here."
"Yay," Yin said, and Gale nodded; his touch feather light as he checked on it. "I need to asure your other arm. Lengths, broadness, size, so I get the asurents right."
"Sure," Yin said, and Gale leaned back. "Then wrap this up again. This is so well-healed; honestly, I have never seen better. I don't need to inspect much more."
"I'll be fine doing that on my Own." Yin smiled, but she did not get very far when Jiang stepped next to her, took the fabric, and wrapped it around her arm with a feather-light touch, gently and without ever touching her skin or her arm. anwhile, Gale took a sheet of empty paper and began sketching on it with a asuring tape, taking all the necessary data from her other hand.
"I cannot make it growable, but since I will be needing a while to make this...and with a while, I an a few months if not over a year, I will make it a touch bigger." He said. "To make it more fitting."
"Okay. I am not known for my growth spurts, though." She said, and he shook his head.
"Nothing about a growth spurt, just a touch. Since you are a spirit master, I can power it with an engine that runs on spirit power. Like I would do when using a normal spirit tool. It makes many things easier, but an arm for you ans high-strain use in extre situations, excellent fine motor skills, and flexibility far beyond what an average human can achieve. Even among spirit masters, you are physically far stronger than most. Honestly, it will be a challenge." His eyes where shining in excitent. "More so than it is already."
"I am counting on you," Yin said when Jiang got up and opened the door. "Damian."
Damian was dressed like he was out of a Noir Novel. A three-piece pinstripe suit, a long black leather coat, and a hat. He, like Gale, had grown more adult. His eyes were keen, and he was now wearing a mustache with his skin carrying a slight tan.
"Jiang." He sounded surprised. "Tang Yin." He mustered them. "You are more massive." He said to Jiang and then turned to Tang Yin, taking off his hat. "And you are missing an Arm. What did you do, fight a nun?"
Tang Yin blinked at him. "What is it with you two and nuns?
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