2017-03-02: Strange Meetings at the Ancient Culture Exhibit

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  • Log: Strange Meetings at the Ancient Culture Exhibit
  • Cast: Alisha Diphda, Deveria Seyter, Seraph Edna
  • Where: Adlehyde Fairgrounds
  • Date: March 2, 2017
  • Summary: After being shot in the battle against the Lord of Calamity, Alisha is trying to get better. She and Edna encounter Deveria.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

In the battle against the Lord of Calamity, Alisha Diphda was shot by a gun. She has been stabbed, slashed, bashed, and struck by an arrow before. A knight's life is full of such dangers. She has never, however, been shot by a gun.

Even with the healing of Seraphim, it took a few days to feel a hundred percent.

Today, she is visiting the Ancient Culture Exhibit to have a good look at the sorts of things that shot her. The exhibit's market area has ARMsmiths who have chosen to sell their wares -- a rare thing in a city like Adlehyde. The market is all stalls, tents, and temporary construction of all sorts. There aren't just firearms out. There are also floating orbs, glowing screens, and flickering lights.

ARMs of every type are on display -- and it's almost all foreigners. The good people of Adlehyde want nothing to do with things like /these/.

Alisha stands out even among foreigners. She had to have the white and pink tabard repaired, so she has her black shirt on -- a fresh one -- and a ribbon at her throat, but she wears a pink-and-white skirt, and her belt has a sword she purchased hanging at her side.

She leans over an ARM and frowns at it.

<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.

(/Gods,/ what a disgusting hovel,) Lieutenant Deveria Seyter can't help but think to herself. (And it's full of revolting -Lambs-!)

Outwardly, no such person is here. There is, however, a certain kerfuffle nearby as a couple of manservants plod into the square, each one leading a rickshaw with a little cabin veiled with white silk curtains. Perched in the cart, a rather elegant young woman with her hair in ringlets sits in a reclined posture, hands idly moving to straighten her incredibly poofy and frilly dress. It's mostly pink and white, and cut a bit daringly in places. As the rickshaw rolls in, she raises her hand and speaks, her voice clear and high. "Stop me here, please! I shall get off now."

The manservants do, in fact, stop. One of them is even kind enough to lower a little ladder. The woman takes a few steps down it, then touches one high heel imperiously to the earth, as if her very step could spurn it.

No, Lieutenant Seyter isn't here at all.

Heiress Ivanka Margareta Philomena Melita von Croissant XIV, however, flips back her ringlets with a toss of her head, touching a hand to her hip, the other to her chin, as she stares around at the festival grounds. She feigns a little gasp. "Goodness, everything's so quaint," she breathes.

Someone stands out. It's who Ivanka Margareta Philomena Melita von Croissant XIV is looking for - people who stand out.

Fishing out a kerchief, she waves it at Alisha meaningfully. "Oh, yoohoo!" she calls. "Excuse me, miss -La-" she pauses. "-vely young lady! Excuse me! Can I ask you about your fascinating sword? It looks terribly elegant!"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

In the battle against the Lord of Calamity and her cohorts... Edna's dress was ruined with glitter. Nevermind that it was merely temporary, given her nature as a seraphim. She would not let this slight against fashion stand. That fool barbarian jester would meet with her wrath the next time they crossed paths.

...Oh, and Alisha was shot.

That's a thing too.

Being the ever benevolent soul she is, Edna accompanied Alisha on her outing out into the city. Not that the princess can really tell. She's silent, parasol opened up and idly being twirled slowly on her shoulder as her icy blue gaze follows the mostly recovered young woman thrugh the Ancient Culture Exhibit.

The earth seraph comes to a stop at the ARM exhibit just as Alisha does, and she glances over the weapons with a vaguely critical eye. ".... ....." Her head tilts a bit this way. A bit that way, and then...

"Some of these kind of look like Zavied's little toy." Edna murmurs aloud, though next to Alisha.

And then the princess has someone hailing her. Edna quiets down and just watches, being an invisible entity to people anyway. No need for her to intrude on human interactions too much.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha still can't see Edna, but she can hear her. She nods to what the Seraph says, her expression turned down into a frown. "I never met him," she answers -- seemingly -- no one. Unlike Sorey, she says it softer, so it may be harder to realize she isn't just appreciating the ARM. "He, ah... he was the one on Rayfalke Spiritcrest, wasn't he?"

The one who was there to kill the dragon -- something that /still/ sends a shiver down Alisha's spine. The one that was there to kill...

Her eyelids lower, a little, sadly.

Alisha looks up, though, when Deveria approaches. She blinks at her -- and then she smiles slightly, before she nods. "It's, ah--well, it is local, but yes, I paid a few gella for it. I thought the hilt design was striking, but it is still functional! I heard this type of blade is popular in Arctica."

<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.

Deveria - excuse me- Ivanka - approaches Alisha with the brisk, imperial stride of someone who seems like she could cast aside the earth with her simplest step. She flicks her head, ringlets cascading back over her shoulders in a jouncy golden array. Her high heels leave little impressions in the turf.

The dusty, disgusting turf. She tries to hide her disgust.

"Oh, is it?" she asks as she leans forward curiously to peer at the sword, imposing herself into Alisha's personal space ever so slightly. "It really is very elegant, isn't it? I often find the ARMs to be very simplistic, but these sorts of weapons are always very charming, aren't they?" She straightens up and brings her hand to her cheek, fixing Alisha with a vibrant smile that seems to beam sunshine and energy at her as if some sort of social conquistadore had just called for a full-out charm offensive on her face. "Certainly I've never seen weapons like that around these parts! You must have a very talented swordsmith, miss...? Oh dear, what was your name again?"

Her eyes flick to one side, for just a moment. She could've sworn something was there. It's back to Alisha soon enough, though. "Are you a master swordsperson, then?" she asks. "How interesting!"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Edna rolls her eyes.

"Yes." She answers simply, with no real emotional inflection to her tone one way or the other. Though her gaze does dip low for a moment. "He wants to kill my brother. You can say it." She mutters plainly. There's just a tiny bit of edge to that statement, signifying that it bothers her. But she doesn't dwell on it. "Anyway, his little pea shooter might be one of these ARMs. Maybe."

She wouldn't know for sure unless she sought the shirtless fool out and asked. And that was too much effort. Once Ivanka, approaches and gets all up into Alisha's personal space, the earth seraph just takes a step to the side and watches with a mildly amused look. Not a word is said to assist the princess with the oddly pushy woman. ...She seems like another one of those noble types. Hm.

The brief flicker of a glance in Edna's direction does her Ivanka a quirk of the brow. Could this one actually be able to sense her? "..... ......" Let's find out.

She subtly steps aside and behind the woman. And then....

Poke poke.

That's her parasol's tip poking right into Ivanka's lower back.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"He... I'm sorry," she says. It seems terrible to consider, and Alisha didn't have a sibling she was close to. She looks down for a moment, and that's how she is -- until Ivanka is stepping into her space.

Alisha takes a step backward, that instinctive motion to maintain her personal space when she grew up going to an academy for noble girls at a young age. She doesn't frown, though. She just recognizes that imperial stride, and she knows that it's best to not get too close to it. She smiles, though, at the sunny smile -- before her eyes glance down at the sword.

"Not from here, no," she says. "The vendor can be found six rows that way." She points in a direction. "He said he found the weapons washed up on the Silver Coast, from an Arctican shipwreck." The only ships from Arctica in the last few years have been shipwrecks.

Her spear, of course, is truly not from here. She tilts her head, before she smiles a little more. "I'm passing fair with a sword," she says. "The spear is more my forte." But the way she still favors one side -- well, a sword is a safer weapon to use.

She, mercifully, cannot see that Edna is moving to poke her in the back.

<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.

You don't know the half of it, Edna.

Deveria allows Alisha to escape being crowded; just the sight of the poofy pink princess-knight giving ground to her is enough to fill her with a feeling of immense personal satisfaction. Her smile doesn't betray it entirely, though. She smooths her hands into the folds of her dress, smiling warmly at the swordswoman - spearwoman, perhaps? "Interesting! Perhaps I shall have to visit! I admit to not knowing how to use a spear, though yours also looks remarkably elegant! Is it also Arctican, or did you get it from somewhere else?"

(Because most people around here would have a gun,) her mind fills in.

She touches a hand to her lips, then, feigning mild surprise and doubling back with a laugh. It comes out as you might expect: A light "O~ho~ho~ho~ I hope you'll forgive me interest! My name is /iyaa~/"

That comes as someone prods her in the back. She jumps slightly, her eyes going quite wide. "Alright, which -La-" she gasps as she begins to turn, before cutting herself off and remembering that she can't call these people Lambs or set them on fire. "-dy back there is prodding me?! That's very rude!" She's finishing the sentence even as she comes around to where Edna would be -

And fixes her with a straight-on look, wagging a finger and shaking her head. "Young lady, you should just ask if you'd like my attention in the future!"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Ah.

She was right.

That squeak of surprise was worth all the miniscule amount of effort that she expended prodding Deveria. There's a self satisfied smirk on her face and she opens her parasol back up, setting it onto her shoulder again. Once the noble seeming lady turns around to expectedly see no one, Edna is instead fixed with a direct look.

Having proven herself right, she takes it in stride and merely tilts her head just slightly. "I have no idea what you're talking about, lady." The earth seraph replies, not even making an effort to try and make herself seem innocent.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed. "Somewhere else," Alisha says. She keeps the smile on her face while Ivanka talks, but she doesn't say more -- but she jumps a little when she makes that noise, and then she peers around Deveria. Her eyes fall upon...

...empty street.

Edna, of course. She opens her mouth and stares -- and maybe she can't see Edna, but Edna can see Alisha. And Alisha is currently making /such/ a face. "Ah--" She can't admit that she didn't see her. But how did she see Edna? "--I'm sure that she didn't mean anything by it, miss!"

She smiles, before she looks vaguely in Edna's direction. "We're friends. I, um." She almost giggles; her face screws up. "I didn't see you there, Edna!"

<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.

"I'm sure you don't," Deveria says to Edna somewhat tartly, taking a long step to one side and turning with a billow of her frankly-excessive skirts to ensure she's put Alisha and Edna at equidistant points from her, forming the conversation into a simple triangle. She makes it look very casual rather than like a reflexive gesture.

The blonde curls a hand at her hip and squints at Edna for a moment more, having no idea that something's amiss save for an odd feeling buzzing somewhere behind her eyes that she can't entirely place. "Now be sure to keep your hands to yourself from hereon in," she chides the little Seraph with a click of her tongue, then turns a little to better face Alisha, her smile returning, as energized as ever. "Aha! It's always wonderful to go to a fair with your friends, isn't it?"

She brings her free hand up, fingers splayed at her collarbone. "In any case! My name is Ivanka, of the von Croissant manor." Don't look for it on a map. You won't find it. "And I do so love to see those from far-off lands come here!" Even if they're -Lambs.- "Tell me, what is it that you seek at the Fair? Exotic ARMs, perhaps? Mysterious artifacts?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Poor, sweet Alisha.

Edna sees the look on her face, but her own expression remains fixed in a calm, subtle smirk, parasol twirling about her shoulder idly. The exchange is rather one sided, but nonetheless, her little prank has run its course and now they've been put into a regular mexican standoff.

...Well, not exactly, but still.

"Yeah. Sure. Keep my hands to myself. Uh huh." The earth seraph murmurs casually, averting her gaze off to the side in a somewhat bored manner. As Alisha tries very hard to pretend that she can see her, Edna just smiles mysteriously at the assertation that they're friends.

"The best of friends." She monotones, stepping on over to the princess' side and facing Ivanka that way. Upon hearing that introduction, one end of her lips quirk. "... Croissant?" She asks, before looking upwards at the sky idly. "Guess your folks must make a ton of bread. How quaint."

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha brightens even more when Edna says they are the best of friends -- but she isn't clueless, and knows that might be sarcasm. Still, she appreciates the idea, and clasps her hands together in front of her. Then, she nods her head without looking down -- because she doesn't know where Edna moved, without the assistance of glitter.

"Oh, yes! It's quite fun," she says. "We've had a good time, looking at all of the stalls." She does a slight bow at the waist. "I am Alisha Diphda. Edna, as I mentioned, if a friend. It is a pleasure, Miss... ah, are you of the nobility?"

She has that bearing, Alisha thinks. But then she tilts her head. It would be a tragedy to be Lady Croissant, she thinks. The question brings her back from that ruminating. "I've enjoyed all of Adlehyde's sights. To get to learn about this land... it is wonderful! Today, though, I was looking at the ARMs."

Like the one that shot her, she doesn't add.

<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.

"Actually yes! It's the best bread," 'Ivanka' declares with a broad smile, clasping her hands. "Perhaps you should try some someday. It might help you grow up big and strong. Maybe help you fill out a dress a little better someday."

She lets that hang there.

Then she fixes Alisha with that bright smile again, her hands folding before her. She genuinely doesn't get why her name's funny but - spoiler - she just picked a random word out of a dictionary because she couldn't think of anything else.

"Lady Ivanka's quite acceptable," Deveria assures, mentally sizing Alisha and her short, pesky friend up. "And yes, my family are noble folk! It's wonderful to meet you, Alisha. And your /charming/ little friend, too!"

(Note to self: Shoot the little brat at the earliest opportunity,) Deveria decides. (And figure out how she even got behind me. I could've sworn I'd covered my six.)

Something in Alisha's tone triggers a thought. She taps a finger against her cheek, giving the pink knight-princess a pensive look up and down, as if measuring her with her eyes. "You seem very interested in them," she muses. "Do you have much experience with ARMs? I notice that all your equipment seems to be designed to fight up close. That's awfully courageous, isn't it?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

"....... ......... ........."

"........ ........"

"........"

Edna gives Ivanka the most withering stare she can manage. Which for her, is just mild downturn of the brows, and subtle thinning of the lips. Blue eyes glance back upwards slowly, taking in the sight of the sky and ruminating upon all manner of things.

Then she lowers her parasol and takes her sweet time closing it up. Once she does, she speaks aside to Alisha, ignoring everything else that's been said after.

"I'm going to skewer her." She casually decides, the beginnings of a Seraphic Arte beginning to start up. More specifically, a golden spellcircle forming below the little seraph's feet, building up to something...

Something that couldn't possibly be good now.

It's proooooobaably not a grand idea to start a fight in the middle of a city.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha's eyes widen when Ivanka suggests why Edna should eat more bread. She wouldn't really /know/ -- she has only seen Edna in highlight, thanks to the a glitterbomb. But, she knows that sort of rudeness. It leaves her mouth gaping, until she covers her hand.

"I-I see," she says.

And then she /does/ see. She doesn't see Edna, but she sees the magical circle appear in a flash under her feet. She quickly takes a step backward, laughing nervously. "W-Well, it was a pleasure, but I think--I think we should be going!" She reaches a hand out, grabbing at Edna. She sort of grabs her upper arm, awkwardly, instead of the hand she hoped for.

But the princess-knight is strong, and she gives a firm yank on her arm as she starts to bolt off. "Come on, Edna! Let's... have a look at other things!"

<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.

The smile Deveria fixes Edna with is just the most impossibly galling smile in the world. She doesn't even quite look at her directly. It'd be a nice smile if she weren't holding her chin just a little high and smirking ever so slightly. Eeeeever so aggravatingly slightly.

It doesn't even break as Edna starts powering up. She doesn't so much as flinch. Her eyelids do lower ever so slightly.

"Are you sure, Edna?" she asks, her voice quite quiet, and completely absent of airheaded mirth - only a cool, utterly steady note, like a wall of ice.

Alisha acts before 'Ivanka' has to. She puts her expression back on and curls her fingers in a little wave. "Oh, please, do have a lovely evening, then!" she coos after the pair, once again putting on a smile that makes her look like the light in her eyes is the sun streaming in through the hole in the back of her head. As Alisha drags Edna away, Ivanka rises on her toes and waves after them. "Byyyye, Alisha! Bye, Edna! We must do this again!!"

Inwardly, Deveria is making mental notes.

(Alisha flailed at her,) her inner soldier remarks. (As if she didn't know where her hand was. Hm.)

She adds a name to her mental list.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Poof, there goes her arte as Alisha grabs her arm and drags her off. Edna has to awkwardly stumble against the pull for bit, but then just looks away and follows along. "I'm sure we will." Is her response to Ivanka's farewell, not bothering to look back.

While the noble lady makes mental notes, Edna does the exact same thing.

'Haughty Drillhaired Lady' is etched in right under 'Stupid Green Hooligan'.

That's two people to Terra Mine eventually.

Soon.